FanHouse LuizCane

The UFC has finally announced Antonio Rogerio "Minotoro" Nogueira's promotional debut at UFC 106 on Nov. 21 against Luiz Cane as well as Mike Pierce as Jon Fitch's new opponent at UFC 107 on Dec. 12.

Rogerio Nogueira (17-3), the twin brother of former UFC heavyweight champion Rodrigo Nogueira, is a top 10 light heavyweight who is entering an already stacked 205-pound division in the UFC. He'll be welcomed to the Octagon by rising contender Luiz Cane (11-1-1), who has already compiled three UFC wins.

After his victory over Wanderlei Silva at UFC 99, Rich Franklin is now on my list of the Top 10 light heavyweights in mixed martial arts -- and Silva is off it. But what's next for Franklin? I'd love to see him get a Top 10 opponent, but most of the rest of the Top 10 are already committed to other fights: Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs. Rashad Evans, Forrest Griffin vs. Anderson Silva, Keith Jardine vs. Thiago Silva.

I think the best option is to match up Franklin with Luiz Cane, and I think a dark horse possibility is Franklin vs. Tito Ortiz, if Ortiz returns to the Octagon. In any event, my list of the top 10 light heavyweights in MMA is below.

My new list of the Top 10 light heavyweights in mixed martial arts reflects the changing landscape after UFC 97, with Shogun Rua moving up and Chuck Liddell moving out.

I'm sorry to see Liddell go, but at this point I don't think there's any point in ranking him because I think it's probably safe to say he's no longer an active mixed martial artist. Even if I were counting him as an active fighter, I don't think he'd be in my Top 10 anymore. Shogun is now in my Top 5, and I'm very excited to see what he does next. Top 10 below.

Coming out of UFC 97, two stories will dominate the discussions: Anderson Silva looking unimpressive and needing to go the distance to win his ninth straight fight, and Chuck Liddell probably walking out of the Octagon for the final time. I agree that those are the two big stories of the night, but I'd urge mixed martial arts fans not to forget a third: Shogun Rua is back.

Welcome to the FanHouse UFC 97 live blog of Saturday night's undercard fights, where we'll have live results and round-by-round updates of the three undercard fights on the pay-per-view show: Cheick Kongo vs. Antoni Hardonk, Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Brian Stann and Luiz Cane vs. Steve Cantwell.

The fights are underway and the live blog begins below.