The UFC adds a legendary rivalry between two icons at UFC 250. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto reports that a trilogy in the light heavyweight division between Maurício “Shogun” Rua and Antônio Rogério “Lil Nog” Nogueira will take place at UFC 250 in Sao Paulo, Brazil on May 19. Both fighters are from Brazil and are legends in MMA. Their rivalry dates back from their time in the now-defunct Japanese MMA organization Pride Fighting Championship.
Breaking: Shogun (@ShogunRua) vs. Lil Nog (@Minotauromma) 3 booked to UFC 250 on May 9 in São Paulo, Brazil, per UFC president Dana White (@danawhite). The trilogy will take place 15 years after the original.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN)
The trilogy started when both Shogun and Nogueira fought in the Pride FC Middleweight Grand Prix at Pride FC: Critical Countdown on June 26, 2005. Shogun defeated Nogueira by unanimous decision and went on to win the tournament. They both found their way into the UFC and fought for the second time at UFC 190 on August 1, 2015. Shogun defeated Nogueira in the rematch again by unanimous decision. The trilogy will be 15 years in the making.