By FCF Staff

A few weeks removed from his submission victory over Parker Porter in October, news has surfaced today that Gabriel Gonzaga will be returning to the Octagon sometime in 2012. According to a post on the heavyweight’s Team Link Academy website, Gonzaga has signed a new four fight deal with the UFC, and will fight Edinaldo Oliveira January 14^th.

The UFC has not made any official announcement regarding Gonzaga’s (12-6) return. The promotion did confirm earlier today, however, that Oliveira’s scheduled opponent for UFC 142 Rob Broughton, is out due to injury.

After losing by unanimous decision to Brendan Schaub at UFC 121 in October, 2010, which followed a stoppage loss to Junior dos Santos that March, Gonzaga was released by the UFC.

Gonzaga retired briefly from competition, before returning to action with the Reality Fighting promotion and defeating the aforementioned Porter.

The 32 year-old-heavyweight has gone 7-5 in the UFC to date. After knocking out Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic with a highlight reel, head kick in 2007, Gonzaga challenged former heavyweight champion Randy Couture later that year, but lost by third round stoppage.

Photo via MMAMania.com