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The UFC announced that the bout between former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans and Brazilian knockout artist Thiago Silva will headline UFC 108, a result of Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira having to pull out of his fight with Cain Velasquez due to a severe left elbow injury. UFC 108: EVANS vs. SILVA, presented by “Bayonetta,” will be held Saturday, Jan. 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and televised live on pay-per-view.

“The bout between Rashad Evans and Thiago Silva is a fight we always talked about as a main event, and now these guys have the chance to headline UFC 108 and kick off the new year in impressive fashion,” said UFC President Dana White. “At the same time, we wish Antonio Nogueira a speedy recovery and can’t wait for his return.”

Ready to get his UFC light heavyweight title back, Rashad Evans, fighting out of Albuquerque, has notched wins over some big names in the division including consecutive knockout victories over Chuck Liddell and then-champion Forrest Griffin. The Niagara Falls, NY native and former Michigan State University wrestler has won 18 of his 20 professional fights and also earned a draw against former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz. A skilled grappler with tremendous knockout power, Evans will need all of his well-rounded abilities when he faces Silva, the man who knocked out his teammate and training partner Keith Jardine.

Evans said, “Being able to get right back in the mix and right back into a main event is an honor. This is the first step in getting my title back. Thiago is a dangerous fighter standing up and on the ground and I always relish an opportunity to fight the best and put on a great show for the fans.”

A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who can get the knockout as easy as the tap out, Thiago Silva, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil, has won 14 of his first 15 professional fights. His 95-second KO victory over Jardine at UFC 102 was his fifth win in the UFC, four coming via KO/TKO and one by submission. The 26-year-old has put away his opponents within two rounds in all of his UFC wins and he looks to throw his name into the UFC title contention hat with a win over former world titleholder Evans.

Silva stated, “I feel that the bigger the fight, the better I do. Being in the main event for a UFC card has always been a goal of mine. Rashad is a great fighter but he’d better come prepared in all aspects of mixed martial arts.”

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