• UFC 133

Nogueira out of Franklin fight at UFC 133

ESPN staff
July 17, 2011
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira has a shoulder injury © Getty Images
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UFC 133 has been thrown into more chaos after Antonio Rogerio Nogueira was forced to withdraw from his light-heavyweight collision with Rich Franklin.

The news comes just days after Phil Davis was forced out of the main event by a knee injury. On that occasion, the UFC managed to lure Tito Ortiz in as a more-than-acceptable replacement for the showdown with Rashad Evans.

Now the promotion has even less time to find a new rival for Franklin, with the event less than three weeks away.

Nogueira is believed to have suffered a shoulder injury, although the severity of the problem is unconfirmed. Frankin, meanwhile, is aiming to bounce back from defeat to Forrest Griffin.

Middleweight Chris Leben offered to step in recently when Davis was sidelined from the main event, but it is yet to become apparent if he would be willing to provide the rescue act for the Franklin fight. Such a bout could have relevance, with Franklin himself a former 185lb champion.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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