» Fighter: Alex Stiebling

Former PRIDE 205-pound contender “Brazilian Tiger” Ricardo Arona (14-5) and former WEC middleweight champion “Ely” Paulo Filho (16-1) both rang up three-round unanimous decisions at Bitetti Combat in Rio de Janeiro Saturday night.

Arona beat “Beastman” Marvin Eastman (16-10-1), who nearly missed the fight due to Brazilian visa miscommunications. The win was Arona’s first MMA fight since getting KO’d in round one versus “African Assassin” Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (6-4) at PRIDE 34 in Tokyo in April 2007. Arona had turned to professional surfing during his hiatus from fighting, but is now devoted to MMA.

Filho, himself on course for a sort of comeback after a disappointing conclusion to his WEC stint last year, beat Alex Schoenauer (13-10) controversially. Filho’s hometown crowd booed the judges’ decision.

Read More About Brazilian PRIDE Stars Ricardo Arona, Paulo Filho Win UDs at Bitetti Combat…

Okay…now “Minotoro” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (15-3) has officially jumped ship from the Bitetti Combat card in Rio de Janeiro 12 September and has been replaced by “Ninja” Murilo Rua (16-10-1), brother of Fighters.com’s sixth-ranked light heavyweight and UFC title challenger “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (18-3).

Rua will fight Nogueira’s intended opponent, “Brazilian Killa” Alex Stiebling (19-10-1), in what becomes a more evenly matched fight. Rua lost a two-round UD to Riki Fukuda (12-4) at DREAM 8 in Nagoya 5 April.

Stiebling lost by second round TKO to “Chteki” Moise Rimbon (12-8-2) at Bodog Fight 3 in Costa Rica in February 2007.

Read More About Fighters.com Exclusive: “Ninja” Murilo Rua To Replace “Minotoro” Nogueira at Bitetti Combat…

Light heavyweight “Minotoro” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (15-3) is committed to fighting “Brazilian Killa” Alex Stiebling (19-10-1) at Bitetti Combat in Rio 12 September as of 4:30 PM EST Tuesday, according to Fighters.com’s sources close to the promotion.

Rogerio’s big bro’, Fighters.com’s fifth-ranked heavyweight “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-5-1), announced on a media conference call Tuesday afternoon that Rogerio was close to a deal with the UFC.

MMA Junkie subsequently reported that Rogerio was scratched from his fight at Bitetti Combat. MMA Weekly later confirmed Rogerio has been scratched with Ed Soares, Rogerio’s American manager.

Read More About UPDATE: “Li’l Nog’” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira Not Scratched from Bitetti…Yet…