THE CANADIAN PRESS
LAS VEGAS — Former light-heavyweight champion Tito (The Huntington Beach Bad Boy) Ortiz will take on Brazilian Antonio Rogerio Nogueira on March 26 in Seattle in a UFC "Fight Night Live" show.
Injuries and philosophical differences have limited the 35-year-old Ortiz to three fights in the last three years. He lost all three and is 0-4-1 since beating Ken Shamrock in October 2006.
"This is a must-win fight for Tito Ortiz," UFC president Dana White said in a statement.
The KeyArena card will also feature a welterweight bout between Anthony (Rumble) Johnson and Dan (The Outlaw) Hardy.
Duane (Bang) Ludwig will face Amir Sadollah in another 170-pound matchup while featherweights Nam Phan and Leonard (Bad Boy) Garcia look to settle their score after a controversial decision went Garcia’s way in December.
Ortiz (16-8-1) called Little Nog "one of the best" fighters in the world.
"He’s dangerous on the feet and on the ground. That’s why you won’t hear me talking any smack," Ortiz said in a statement.
The 34-year-old Nogueira (19-4) is the twin brother of heavyweight Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
Johnson (8-3) and Hardy (23-8 with one no contest) are two welterweight contenders needing a win to climb back up the ladder.
Johnson was beaten by Josh Koscheck last time out at UFC 106 while Hardy is coming off losses to Carlos Condit and champion Georges St-Pierre.
Ludwig (28-11) returned to action with a win over Nick Osipczak at UFC 122 in November after suffering a serious ankle injury in a loss to Darren Elkins in March.
Sadollah (5-2) defeated Peter Sobotta at UFC 122.
Garcia (19-6-1) and Phan (16-9) put on a show when they met in December but many thought the split decision went the wrong way.
The "UFC Fight Night Live" card will be shown on Spike TV.
