IFL light heavyweight champion Vladimir Matyushenko (21-3) is in talks to face former PRIDE standout Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (14-3) at Affliction "Day of Reckoning" on October 11 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada according to Sherdog.com.
"The Janitor" will try to continue cleaning out the world's light heavyweight closet by rematching Nogueira during Affliction's sophomore effort. The two first squared off back in 2002 at Japan's Universal Fighting-Arts Organization where Matyushenko handed "Minotoro" his first professional loss.
Matyushenko is the winner of eight straight, including an impressive TKO over Jamal Patterson at IFL's New Jersey event last April. In fact Vlad hasn't seen defeat since getting knocked out by fellow Belarusian and Affliction heavyweight Andrei Arlovski back at UFC 44.
"Little Nog", the twin brother of current UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, was victorious in his Affliction debut on July 19, easily stopping Edwin "Babyface" DeWees in the first round.
A win over the heavy-handed Matyushenko could go a long way in re-establishing Noguiera as one of the world's top 205 lb fighters. That position was called into question when the rugged Brazilian was knocked stiff by Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at PRIDE 33 in 2007.
Affliction "Day of Reckoning" features the main event of Josh "The Babyface Assassin" Barnett (23-5) vs. Andrei "The Pitbull" Arlovski (13-5). More fights are expected to be announced in the coming weeks including a rumored middleweight showdown between Matt "The Law' Lindland (21-5) and Vitor "The Phenom" Belfort (17-8).
Stay tuned.
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