Stefan Struve vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira on tap for UFC 190
Former UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will return for the first time in more than a year when he faces top 15 ranked fighter Stefan Struve at UFC 190 on August 1 in Brazil.
UFC officials announced the new matchup on Tuesday.
Nogueira (34-9-1, 1 NC) hasn't fought in the UFC since April 2014 when he was knocked out in dramatic fashion by former "Ultimate Fighter" winner Roy Nelson.
The loss moved Nogueira to 1-3 in his past four fights while only competing three total times in the past three years.
With his body healthy and fresh off a stint coaching "The Ultimate Fighter Brazil" season 4, the legendary Brazilian hopes to bounce back from back-to-back defeats when he fights in his native country in August.
Struve (25-7) will also look to rebound after two consecutive losses of his own to Mark Hunt and Alistair Overeem. The seven-foot Dutch fighter had won four in a row prior to his recent losing streak while he was also dealing with a heart disease that nearly ended his career.
Struve is healthy once again and looking to jump back into the deep end of the heavyweight division and that starts with a shot at a former champion in Brazil.
UFC 190 will be headlined by women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey as she faces Brazilian Bethe Correia in the five round main event.
