Mike Russow | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
The promotion made the matchup official on Wednesday, bringing the total number of scraps for the March 26 event to 11. The show will emanate from KeyArena in Seattle and will be headlined by a light heavyweight clash between former titleholder Tito Ortiz and onetime Pride Fighting Championships star Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.
In the co-main event, Anthony Johnson will make his return to competition as he squares off with heavy-handed Brit Dan Hardy in a welterweight affair. Also scheduled for the main card is a pair of featherweight bouts, as Alex Caceres takes on Mackens Semerzier, and Nam Phan receives his chance at revenge in a rematch with Leonard Garcia.
Russow has not lost in nearly four years. The Chicago police officer was successful in his UFC debut in 2009, earning a unanimous decision over Justin McCully. At UFC 114, Russow scored a stunning, come-from-behind knockout victory over then-undefeated Todd Duffee. The 12-year veteran weathered an early storm by his younger opponent and found Duffee’s chin with a straight right hand in the third round, earning “Knockout of the Night” honors for his efforts.
In Madsen, Russow faces a hard-nosed wrestler with power to spare. The “TUF 10” vet is undefeated in his nearly three years as a fighter. The H.I.T. Squad product has posted a perfect, 4-0 record inside the Octagon and holds victories over Mostapha Al-Turk, Karlos Vemola and Gilbert Yvel.
Tito
Ortiz vs. Antonio
Rogerio Nogueira
Dan
Hardy vs. Anthony
Johnson
Amir
Sadollah vs. Duane
Ludwig
Aaron
Simpson vs. Mario
Miranda
John
Hathaway vs. Kris
McCray
Leonard
Garcia vs. Nam Phan
Alex
Caceres vs. Mackens
Semerzier
Sean
McCorkle vs. Christian
Morecraft
Mike
Russow vs. Jon
Madsen
Michael
McDonald vs. Nick Pace
Dennis
Hallman vs. Anthony
Waldburger