[bears9]

The UFC’s Dec. 29 fight card is starting to take shape with the addition of a heavyweight battle between Cheick Kongo (11-3-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (30-4-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC).
Brian Knapp of The Fight Network reported the UFC 79 fight today (but didn’t report where he learned of the matchup) and hinted that the winner could be in line for a title shot. As MMAjunkie.com (UFC news, MMA news, UFC rumors, UFC gossip, fighter interviews and event previews and recaps - MMAjunkie.com (formerly UFCjunkie.com)) has reported during the past month, current heavyweight champ Randy Couture will likely headline a SuperBowl weekend card in February.
UFC 79 will likely take place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas and air on pay-per-view. Welterweight champion Matt Serra meets former champ Matt Hughes in the night’s main event.
Nogueira, a top-ranked heavyweight fighter and former PRIDE champ, had to rebound for a win over Heath Herring at UFC 73. After getting dropped by a head kick in the first round, Nogueira won the next two for a unanimous-decision victory in his UFC debut.
Kongo, a French kickboxer, scored the biggest win of his career last month at UFC 75 when he posted a unanimous-decision victory over Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic. The win pushed Kongo’s UFC record to 4-1, with his only loss coming in a close split-decision loss to Carmelo Marrero at UFC 64.

Report: Cheick Kongo vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 79

[EmpireWF]

This is a pretty big fight for the show. Noguiera is one of the best heavyweights in MMA, ever. This is a big battle for Kongo to test where he is.

Nogueira with a win here should become the #1 contender to Couture and the heavyweight title.

[bears9]

Ya I was thinking the winner gets Couture as well

[bears9]

Update

A rumored bout between heavyweights Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (30-4-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) and Cheick Kongo (11-3-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) will likely take place in early 2008 — not at UFC 79 in December as was first reported — says Dave Meltzer of FOX Sports.
The bout, which would feature two contenders on the cusp of a title shot, could take place at a possible January event in Newcastle, England, or a February SuperBowl weekend card in Las Vegas, Melzter reported.
Earlier this week, The Fight Network reported that the fight would take place at a Dec. 29 event in Las Vegas.

Report: Nogueira vs. Kongo Likely in Early 2008