Gabriel Gonzaga Returning To The UFC

[No More Sorrow]

Former UFC heavyweight title challenger Gabriel Gonzaga (12-6 MMA, 8-5 UFC) is returning to the UFC.

The fighter has signed a new multi-fight deal with the organization and now meets fellow Brazilian Ednaldo Oliveira (13-0-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) as an injury replacement for Rob Broughton (15-7-1 MMA, 1-2 UFC) at next month's UFC 142 event.

Gonzaga's management today announced the booking. MMAjunkie subsequently confirmed it with sources close to the event.

UFC 142 takes place Jan. 14 at Rio de Janeiro's HSBC Arena, and the night's main card airs on pay-per-view. The prelims, including Gonzaga vs. Oliveira, air on FX.

Gonzaga, who was once a top-10 heavyweight, went 8-5 in the UFC from 2005 to 2010. Although he briefly considered retirement, he returned to the cage back in October at a Reality Fighting show in Connecticut, where he submitted Parker Porter to win the organization's heavyweight belt.

Gonzaga, who defeated and stunned Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic in a 2007 title eliminator, ultimately suffered a knockout loss to then-UFC champ Randy Couture. The UFC released released him in 2010 following a 1-3 run against a murderers' row of heavyweights that included Shane Carwin, Junior Dos Santos and Brendan Schaub.

Oliveira (whose first name sometimes is spelled "Edinaldo") made his pro debut in 2005 and has been a fixture on Brazil's regional circuit. The heavy-handed Brazilian has picked up eight knockouts in 13 career wins. Most recently, the 6-foot-7 fighter scored a first-round knockout of Nalzinho Novaes. He's fought six times in 2011 with a 5-0 record (and one no-contest due to an eye poke).

MMAJunkie.com

 

[Deuce]

Loved this guy while he was in the UFC, will be glad to see him return. He is a very powerful guy so I hope he can make a bigger impact than he did last time.

 

[No More Sorrow]

I pretty much assume that the UFC brought him back in because he's a Brazilian fighter, and he'll be on the Brazil card only the prelims but still. And he's going to have to make a big impact to try and get on the main card at future UFC events.

 

[Slim]

Yea he got a lot to prove to get back on the main card. That KO of Mirko is his big time highlight and thats what put him on the map. After that its been... downhill. He has the power and the skills to make it back but... can he compete against the top tier of the UFC?

 

[No More Sorrow]

Yeah he'll have to show something in this upcoming fight because he only signed to a 4 fight contract anyways, if he does have a good showing i could see him MAYBE getting a shot at legit UFC talent but eh.

 

[The Cork]

Gatekeeper, nothing more.

 

[Troy]

I had assumed that he had retired. Agree that he will need a big win in Brazil to get onto a maincard in the future. I see UFC using him on prelims and on the live shows.

 

[No More Sorrow]

Yeah before this i had hear of him going into K-1 but it never really turned out into anything, but yeah he'll be on the prelims for awhile although if he loses this fight next month could see him getting cut again.