Former Pride light heavyweight contender Ricardo Arona, a permanent fixture in the MMA scene overseas, is claiming that not only has he been signed to the world’s largest organization, but that he will be eligible to make his debut as early as November.

According to an interview with GracieMag, he is still on his toes about everything MMA and is itching to get back in there, sooner rather than later. “I watch everything and everybody, I’m keeping up with things, and I can say I have what it takes to the UFC light heavyweight division, the most stacked of them all”, said Arona while speaking with the Brazilian magazine.

While on a stint on the Sensei-fight specific television show, Ricardo went into detail discussing some of his lingering issues concerning fighting. In the last three years, Arona has only fought once, in a bout against the proverbial journeyman, Marvin Eastman at “Bitetti Combat MMA 4″ in September of last year where Arona won by unanimous decision.

An excerpt from GracieMag: “According to Arona, if the doctors give the go-ahead, he’ll fight in November, which would then take him to the UFC light heavyweight division.”

If November is the date, Arona might be a prime suspect for the stacked UFC 123 card.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the news? Can Arona make an impact? who would you like to see him against? Griffin will be all healed up by then, presumably–maybe Forrest? Lets hear what you have to say. Let your opinions on the matter be heard below.

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.

Fellow Brazlian “Rock” Pedro Rizzo (17-9) also scored a three-round UD over “Snowman” Jeff Monson (31-9) in a rematch Rizzo had won by TKO at Art of War 3 in Dallas in September 2007.

“Ninja” Murilo Rua (17-10-1) TKO’d Alex Stiebling (18-11-1) in the first round with a head kick followed up with a barrage of punches.

The Pit’s Glover Teixeira (8-2) submitted “Chocolate” Leonardo Lucio Nascimento (7-7) in a guillotine choke in the first round.

Fabio Maldonado (5-1) won a three-round UD over Vitor Miranda (1-2).

Milton Vieira (9-6-1) won a three-round split decision over Luciano Azevedo (13-7).

“Besouro” Luis Dutra, Jr. (1-0) TKO’d “Chocolate” Henrique Nogueira (5-5-1) with punches in round one.

Cassiano Tytschyo (6-3) submitted Fausto Black (1-2) in a guillotine choke in round one.

“Pulga” Alexandre Pimental (2-0) won a UD over “Yzzy” Luciano Corea (1-2).

Both UFC title contenders will compete in the -87.9kg division, along with “Toquinho” Rousimar Palhares (11-3). Sengoku judoka Kazuhiro Nakamura (13-9) and DREAM welterweight Andre Galvao (3-0).

UFC welterweight champ “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (19-2) will compete in the -76.9kg division, along with the UFC’s “Zenko” Yoshiyuki Yoshida (11-3), Japanese free agent “K-Taro” Keita Nakamura (15-4-2), and Brazilian free agent “Uirapuru” Marcelo Azevedo (3-5).

In the -98.9kg division, Strikeforce light heavyweight “Babalu” Renato Sobral (32-9), free agent “Brazilian Tiger” Ricardo Arona (13-5), The Ultimate Fighter 8 contestant “Pezao” Vinicius Magalhães (3-5), former UFC and PRIDE fighter “Boogey Man” Dean Lister (11-6), The Pit’s “Brazilian Pit Bull” Glover Teixeira (7-2), Brazilian heavyweight free agent “Pe De Pano” Marcio Cruz (6-2), and Aussie light heavyweight “Hippo” Anthony Perosh (6-4).

Strikeforce heavyweight contender “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (12-4-1) and American free agent “Snowman” Jeff Monson (27-8) highlight the +99kg division. Former IFL heavyweight title challenger Antoine Jaoude (8-3) and M-1 Global heavyweight Rogent Lloret (6-1) will also compete in the highest weight divsion.

In the lowest weight division, -65.9kg, WEC featherweight contender “Big Frog” Jeff Curran (31-12-1) and WEC bantamweight contender Rani Yahya (14-3) will compete with SHOOTO vets “Iron” Hiroshi Nakamura (4-3-4) and “Finisher” Baret Yoshida (5-6-1).

Every division will also include grapplers who don’t compete in MMA.

Every other year, the ADCC creates the most interesting moments and exciting matchups in submission grappling. Always a highlight, the absolute division pits grapplers of all weight classes against each other to crown an absolute champ. Past absolute division matchups include DREAM welterweight “Mach” Hayato Sakurai (35-10) versus former UFC heavyweight champion “Suave” Ricco Rodriguez (32-8-3) and DREAM lightweight “Tobikan Judan” Shinya Aoki (17-4) versus Sengoku heavyweight Roger Gracie (2-0).

Emirati Sheik Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his BJJ instructor Nelson Monteiro created the event that has become the gold standard in submission grappling in 1998 and in 2003 the tournament began touring to locations outside the UAE.

The grapplers will compete at Pavello Olimpic de Badalona in Barcelona beginning at 11:00 AM on 26 September. Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.