Red tape has put a stranglehold on one of the planned fights for the UFC on FOX card in Chicago: The bantamweight bout between Johnny Bedford and Mitch Gagnon has been pulled due to visa issues.
FOX Changes - Sonnen vs. Bisping, Maia vs. Weidman updated January 17 UFC's second show on Fox has seen a major change, as UFC President Dana White announced today that Mark Munoz is out of his January 28th bout against Chael Sonnen due to injury. Stepping in for Munoz will be "The Count," Michael Bisping, with the winner squaring off against middleweight champion Anderson Silva.
Fans who expected verbal fireworks between these two notorious jawers didn't have to wait long for the jibes to start.
"This isn't the new co-main, because I sold all the tickets. This is the new main event," said Sonnen. "I am going to knock the teeth out of this snot-nosed Brit who calls a Count. I am MMA royalty and America will tune into the Chael Sonnen show next Saturday on FOX."
Never one to turn the other cheek, Bisping offered some opening remarks on his opponent: "He's been kicked out of politics, he has been kicked out of the real estate business, and I am going to kick him out of the middleweight division."
Stepping in to face Bisping's original foe, Brazilian submission ace Demian Maia, will be unbeaten New Yorker Chris Weidman, who is coming off an impressive first round finish of Tom Lawlor at UFC 139 last November.
Roller in for McKenzie in Chi-Town updated January 5th Guillotine specialist Cody McKenzie has been injured and forced to withdraw from the UFC on FOX event later this month. Stepping in on short notice to face TUF runner-up Michael Johnson in the lightweight affair is blue-chip wrestler Shane Roller, who has verbally agreed to the newly-made bout.
Mitch Gagnon to Make UFC Debut in Chicago updated December 28 With Eddie Wineland sidelined, one of Canada's very best bantamweights, Mitch Gagnon, has stepped in to fill the spot against Johnny Bedford at the UFC on Fox event January 28th in Chicago. Verbal agreements are in for the bout between Bedford, a TUF 14 standout, and the 8-1 Gagnon, who will look to extend his six-fight win streak. Injuries Waylay Chicago Fight Card updated December 26 A pair of injuries has required change-ups to the January 28th Chicago fight card.
Brit submission specialist Paul Sass has been injured and forced to withdraw from his bout against Evan Dunham. Stepping in will be Nik Lentz, looking to bounce back from his recent loss at UFC 140. Verbal agreements are in for this lightweight tilt.
In bantamweight action, former champion Eddie Wineland has also suffered an injury and is now out of his bout against TUF 14's Johnny Bedford. A replacement will be named soon. Wineland was originally slated to face Demetrious Johnson, who was pulled from the fight to appear in the UFC's first-ever flyweight matchup on March 3.
City of Broad Shoulders Gets Heavyweight Match-Up updated December 20 Heavyweight sluggers have verbally agreed to battle at UFC on FOX 2 as Strikeforce alum Lavar "Big" Johnson will face fan favorite Joey "The Mexicutioner" Beltran, UFC president Dana White announced today. Brutal Bedford Gets Bout Against Wineland updated December 13 "With Demetrious Johnson joining the flyweight division, former bantamweight champ Eddie Wineland will now be facing TUF 14 standout Johnny Bedford on January 28th in Chicago," said UFC president Dana White today. Both fighters have verbally agreed to the bout.
More Middleweight Matchups for UFC on FOX 2 updated December 7 The televised card for UFC on FOX 2 was revealed today to be a triple-header, with last weekend's TUF 14 Finale winner Michael Bisping returning to action January 28 against Demian Maia.The winner of that bout will be next in line for a middleweight title shot after the winner of Sonnen-Munoz, taking place the same night. Another middleweight matchup has been verbally agreed to for the undercard of that event, as 6-1 Dustin Jacoby takes on 15-5 Chris Camozzi.
Seven Fights Set for UFC on FOX 2 updated December 5 The fight card for UFC </a>on FOX 2 is gathering steam as a number of bouts have been verbally agreed upon by the athletes, UFC president Dana White announced today.
In the night’s main event, former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad
Evans battles the unbeaten Phil Davis to determine the next challenger
to the 205-pound title. Plus, in the night’s co-feature, controversial middleweight contender Chael Sonnen takes on “The Filipino Wrecking
Machine” Mark Munoz in a bout that will decide which fighter gets the
next crack at champion Anderson Silva.
