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Anderson Silva expands on his close relationship with both the Nogueira brothers. He partially credits them with his continued MMA success.

Rashad compares fighting to basketball in a surprisingly valid and enlightening analogy. Rashad reminds us he only lost a fight; he simply had an off night, and he plans to come back with full force.

A light heavyweight bout for UFC 161 was confirmed during a press conference announcing the event on Tuesday.

Tom Wright, the Director of Operations for the UFC’s Canadian division, announced the card for June 15 from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and the MTS Centre. It will be a pay-per-view event.

Wright would only confirm the Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira bout for the night, but promised more fights in the coming weeks.

So far, several have been linked to the card, including Dan Henderson-Rashad Evans and Jake Shields-Tyron Woodley.

A pair of interesting light heavyweight fights are in the works for the UFC’s scheduled Canadian card in June, according to Tatame.com.

Dan Henderson would meet Rashad Evans, while Mauricio “Shogun” Rua gets Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 161.

Henderson (29-9) is coming off a loss to Lyoto Machida last month, while Evans (17-3-1) was dealt a second straight defeat at the hands of Nogueira.

Rua (21-7) defeated Nogueira (21-5) when they met in PRIDE back in 2005. He, however, is also coming off a loss, as Alexander Gustafsson bested him in late 2012.

Nogueira is the lone fighter who won his last match, as mentioned above when he earned a decision over Evans.

“Minotauro” could make a huge jump in the rankings with another win over a former champion, so this could be a big night for him.

The event is expected to be announced for Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada later this week.

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans did not look like his old self during a recent loss to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.

Evans, who has lost just three times in his MMA career, did not make any excuses for the performance. He did, however, vow to return in a post he wrote on Instagram recently.

Many times I have been blessed enough 2 win & entertain! Many times have I rose 2 the occasion and surpassed ppl’s expectations but this last fight I didn’t! I’m humbled in defeat & thankful! In life things happen that you wish did not but it does! I had a great camp but I lost! It’s easy 2 make up excuses & say its because of this or that but the plan truth is I lost cuz he fought better! Me losing doesnt mean I’m less of a human being or that I should retire! It just lets me know I have 2 do better! Im not gonna hang my head 2 long because there isnt a person living that hasnt felt disappointment of not achieving! Life only goes forward not back! I can only do my best in the future so I never feel this way again! I’m thankful 4 all the support & hate! Life is filled with real tragedy & devastation! I’m glad I get another chance! I’m blessed enough 2 have so many things in my life! God has been beyond amazing 2 me! I will move past this & do once again what many say I cant! I will guarantee b4 I am through with fighting y’all will feel me! Thank u UFC,@minotauromma & the best gym in the world #blackzilian/teammates!

Evans, a former winner of The Ultimate Fighter, had been rumored as a potential opponent for UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva if he had defeated Nogueira.

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira did nothing short of shock the entire MMA community when he flat out beat Rashad Evans at UFC 156 earlier this week. Prior to UFC 156, Nogueira had not had a signature win under The UFC banner.

Many of the fighters who competed this past Saturday night at UFC 156 have been given medical suspensions by the Nevada Athletic Commission.

Antonio Rogeiro Nogueira, who defeated Rashad Evans in the co-main event, was given an indefinite suspension for a possible right eye injury.

Complete suspensions can be found below.

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira suspended indefinitely until cleared by ophthalmologist for potential right eye injury

Frankie Edgar suspended until Aug. 2 for potential left orbital fracture, can be cleared early by a maxillofacial doctor following a CT scan; minimum suspension until April 4 with no contact in training until March 20

Francisco Rivera suspended until Aug. 2 for potential right hand/wrist injury, can be cleared early by an orthopedic doctor following an X-ray; minimum suspension until March 20 with no contact in training until March 5

Evan Dunham suspended until Aug. 2 for right orbital blowout fracture, can be cleared early by an ophthalmologist or plastic surgeon; minimum suspension until Feb. 24 with no contact in training until Feb. 17

Jay Hierons uspended until April 4 with no contact in training until March 20 for precautionary reasons

Alistair Overeem suspended until March 20 with no contact in training until March 5 for precautionary reasons

Antonio Silva suspended until March 5 with no contact in training until Feb. 24 due to chin laceration

Jacob Volkmann suspended until March 5 with no contact in training until Feb. 24 due to right eye contusion

Yves Edwards suspended until March 5 with no contact in training until Feb. 24 due to left eye laceration

Joseph Benavidez suspended until Feb. 24 with no contact in training until Feb. 17 due to forehead laceration

Gleison Tibau suspended until Feb. 24 with no contact in training until Feb. 17 for precautionary reasons

Chico Camus suspended until Feb. 24 with no contact in training until Feb. 17 for precautionary reasons

Edwin Figueroa suspended until Feb. 24 with no contact in training until Feb. 17 due to left eye laceration

The first pay-per-view of 2013 left many questions in the UFC, especially around the heavyweight title.

Alistair Overeem was expected to take care of Antonio Silva and make his way to a title match with Cain Velasquez later this year.

However, Overeem failed to respect the striking of Silva, and “Bigfoot” finished him with a bevy of rights in the third round.

What’s next for Velasquez now? Does Silva move into a title fight, or does he need another marquee win to earn a rematch with the champ?

How about the featherweight division? After Jose Aldo took care of Frankie Edgar, where does the Brazilian go? Does Edgar remain at featherweight, or does he bounce around for bigger fights?

Let’s take a further look at the action that went down from the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

No rematch needed between Aldo-Edgar

Frankie Edgar became the rematch king after winning the UFC lightweight title from BJ Penn a few years back. “The Answer” successfully defended the belt against Penn, then fought Gray Maynard twice.

After finishing off Maynard, Edgar battled Benson Henderson twice, dropping both.

Some called the decision for Jose Aldo unfair, but “Scarface” did enough in my mind early on two earn the win (though not by the two 49-46 scores that were read). There is no need for an immediate rematch, however, because Edgar never really threatened Aldo.

There are a handful of featherweights looking to test their skills vs. Aldo in Chan Sung Jung and Ricardo Lamas, so let’s move on with the division.

Where does Edgar go from here?

Edgar isn’t likely to receive a title shot in the near future again at either lightweight or featherweight, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a draw.

Edgar has proven to the world he is one of the gutsiest fighters in all of MMA and he always comes to fight.

So, what could be in for the future? How about a fourth meeting with Gray Maynard? Both fighters have talked about it before, and while the fact that they compete in different weight classes now, I don’t think many would oppose to seeing it happen.

Who does Velasquez face now?

Are Roy Nelson or Stefan Struve really the best choices to face Cain Velasquez for the UFC heavyweight title?

After Alistair Overeem was stunned by Antonio Silva, Nelson and Struve were likely left smiling in front of the TV. Both have fights set for early in 2013, and Velasquez needs a challenger.

Silva was rocked and bloodied by Velasquez in 2012, so a push for a rematch may be tough to make. Of course, finishing Overeem like he did, “Bigfoot” does have a nice pedestal to preach from if he wants the champ.

What the hell were Evans and Nogueira doing?

Rashad Evans and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira completely deflated the arena with their snooze-fest of a co-main event.

After the heavyweights brought the fans to their feet, Evans and Nogueira exchanged high fives for the better part of three rounds before “Little Nog” was declared the victor.

For Evans, this fight could leave him to ponder his future inside the Octagon. The former champ seemed out of it and failed to ever let his hands fly or work his excellent takedowns. Instead, he peppered the lead hand of Nogueira time and time again for no apparent reason.

While Nogueira didn’t really inflict much damage either, he at least pushed the tempo and will likely place himself in a marquee match later this year.

The Strikeforce fighters can fight

Tyron Woodley made an impact in his UFC debut, blitzing Jay Hieron and finishing him just seconds into their prelim bout.

Bobby Green figured out Jacob Volkmann and scored a submission victory, while Isaac Vallie-Flagg defeated Yves Edwards.

All in all, not a bad night for Scott Coker’s former fighters inside the Octagon.

Woodley made the biggest impact, as he has a strong resume and went toe-to-toe with Nate Marquardt last year before falling in the fourth round. Expect Woodley to receive a main card push following his win.

UFC 156 takes place tonight at 10 ET/7 PT; it will be at The Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada

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Antonio Rogerio Nogueira returns to the Octagon this evening after over a year on the sidelines. And he isn’t just taking on a nobody; he’s facing former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans.

The two will comprise the co-main event for UFC 156 from Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Nogueira (20-5) was on the sidelines for the duration of 2012 after defeating Tito Ortiz in late 2011. The win improved his UFC record to 3-2, and as Nogueira told MMAjunkie.com recently, this is a career-defining fight.

“This fight is the most important fight of my life,” Nogueira said. “I’m just focused on this fight. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m going to try to do my best. If I win, I think I’m going to be in a good place in the light heavyweight division.”

Nogueira’s extended absence likely pushed him back a bit in the rankings, but a win over Evans – who has only lost to current champ Jon Jones and former champ Lyoto Machida – would vault him into a marquee bout later this year.