Bitetti Combat: Jeff Monson vs Pedro Rizzo in the works for Sept. 12

A heavyweight battle between stocky grappling guru Jeff "The Snowman" Monson (30-8) and former WVC heavyweight champion Pedro Rizzo (16-9) is in the works for "Bitetti Combat" from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on September 12, according to Super Lutas.

The titanic tilt is actually a rematch from their September 2007 fight at "Art of War 3" from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Rizzo dropped Monson midway through the third with a series of punches for what has turned out to be his only victory in his last three fights.

The heavy-handed Brazilian is coming off two devastating back-to-back knockout losses. Josh Barnett stopped him at Affliction "Banned" in July of 2008 before he went stiff against Gilbert Yvel at "Ultimate Chaos" just last month.

It was only his third fight in as many years and he likely suffers from the gaps of inactivity. Hopefully the once-feared striker can get back to his winning ways against Monson this September.

The self-described anarchist has won seven of his last eight fights following the Rizzo loss.

After stealing a controversial unanimous decision victory against Roy "Big Country" Nelson at "March Badness," Monson made short work of Russian gladiator Sergei Kharitonov at DREAM 8, forcing the Russian to tap with a north-south choke early into round one.

"The Snowman" has momentum on his side, but you can never count Rizzo out so long as he continues to hit like a cement truck.

Bitetti Combat will feature a light heavyweight showdown between Marvin Eastman and Ricardo Arona. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Alex Stiebling are also expected to hook 'em up.

Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more on this developing card.