Fighters.com's eighth-ranked middleweight “Ely” Paulo Filho (17-1) and “Ninja” Murilo Rua (18-10-1) earned victories at Bitetti Combat 5 in São Paulo Saturday. ...

Former UFC heavyweight title challenger “Snowman” Jeff Monson (28-2) and The Pit’s Glover Teixeira (8-2) will matchup at Bitetti Combat 5 in São Paulo December 12, according to Tatame. ...

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. ...

Strikeforce light heavyweight champion "Dreamcatcher" Gegard Mousasi (22-2-1) responded to former WEC middleweight champion "Ely" Paulo Filho's (16-1) challenge exclusively to Fighters.com. "It annoyed me, actually," confided Mousasi. "Because I met Paulo Filho in PRIDE. He was a really nice guy." Mousasi later added, "I don't like to trash talk, but he says a lot of stupid things and I don't like it. If he wants competition and trash talking, I can do it also." ...

Freshly inked UFC light heavyweight “Minotoro” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (15-3) is already back in the gym after a dubious ankle injury that allowed him gracefully out of his promise to Amaury Bitetti (5-2), promoter of the Bitetti Combat card in Rio de Janeiro 12 September. "Minotoro" is the twin brother of Fighters.com’s fifth-ranked heavyweight and former PRIDE and UFC heavyweight champion “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1). Li'l Nog' was scheduled to fight “Brazilian Killa” Alex Stiebling (19-10-1), but bailed on the fight with an ankle injury and amid speculation he'd sign with the UFC. ...

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Rogerio Nogueira (15-3) has officially jumped ship from the Bitetti Combat card in Rio de Janeiro 12 September and has been replaced by "Ninja" Murilo Rua (16-10-1), brother of Fighters.com's sixth-ranked light heavyweight and UFC title challenger "Shogun" Mauricio Rua (18-3).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