UFC
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira back to training, shooting for May or June return to the UFC
Jan 9, 2014 - 6:30:43 PM Antonio Rogerio Nogueira back to training, shooting for May or June return to the UFC

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira has fought just one time in the last two years, beating Rashad Evans last February after missing all of 2012. The UFC wanted to get him back into the cage this March in London in a fight against Alexander Gustafsson, but he was still out of training and sidelined because of injuries.

Now, though, Nogueira says he's back in the gym, and he's got a new timetable set for his return.

"I hear people talk about [fights] with 'Shogun' [Rua], Phil Davis or [Alexander] Gustafsson, but the truth is that I have nothing set yet [for my next fight]," Nogueira said in a release (via MMAFighting.com). "I'm restarting my preparation and I hope I'll be ready to fight anyone the UFC wants in May or June."

"I couldn't train for a long time, so now I have to slowly go back to training to avoid new injuries. I need five months to get at my best in a fight. I can't just stay away from training for six months and then fight in two months."

Penick's Analysis: It's impossible to hold any high expectations for Nogueira upon his return. Prior to the win over Evans - in what was perhaps Evans' worst performance in the UFC - Nogueira hadn't fought since December of 2011. He's fought just six times in the UFC since his debut in 2009, and though he's got some big wins, the lack of activity massively hurts his status in the division. He needs to fight with some consistency in order to get any serious considerations in the UFC's light heavyweight division.