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Antonio Rogerio Nogueira has withdrawn from his co-headlining light heavyweight contest against Brandon Vera at UFC 109 on Feb. 6 in Las Vegas due to injury, Sherdog.com has learned from multiple sources.
Nogueira, the brother of former UFC interim heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, suffered a fractured ankle, said both sources. Nogueira’s manager, Ed Soares, could not be initially reached to confirm the injury.
The 33-year-old Brazilian had debuted strong for the promotion with a first-round technical knockout against Luis Arthur Cane at UFC 106 on Nov. 21 in Las Vegas. Nogueira has won six consecutive bouts; his last loss was a 23-second knockout at the hands of Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at Pride 33 in February 2007.
Sources said the UFC is currently working to secure a new opponent for Vera on the same card.
Vera lost a unanimous decision to UFC hall of famer Randy Couture at UFC 105 on Nov. 14 in Manchester, England. The 32-year-old kickboxer had clocked in victories against Krzysztof Soszynski and Michael Patt before that.
