The injury bug strikes again. On Friday evening, the UFC announced an injury has forced Michael Bisping out of next month’s critical scrap against Mark Munoz.
As we all know full well, the Octagon waits for no man as Lyoto Machida (pictured) has agreed to serve as substitute at UFC Fight Night 30.
Munoz ended his year-long hiatus in impressive fashion by dominating Tim Boetsch at UFC 162 in July. “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” is victorious in five of his last six bouts, with his lone loss during that span coming to now-champion Chris Weidman.
Machida, meanwhile, will be making his UFC middleweight debut. The former light heavyweight champ will try to rebound from August’s highly controversial decision defeat to Phil Davis.
“The Dragon” was initially slated to headline UFC Fight for the Troops 3 against Tim Kennedy. No word on who will now meet the former green beret on November 6th.
According to Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com, an eye issue is what forced Bisping out of the matchup. It is the same eye the Brit had surgery on for a detached retina earlier this year.
UFC Fight Night 30 takes place October 26 inside Manchester Arena in England. Fox Sports 2 will broadcast the main card live in America.
Here is the show’s updated agenda:
Preliminary Card:
(Facebook 11:45AM ET/8:45AM PT)
Michael Kuiper vs. Brad Scott
Jimy Hettes vs. Mike Wilkinson
Cole Miller vs. Andy Ogle
Jessica Andrade vs. Rosi Sexton
Luke Barnatt vs. Andrew Craig
Al Iaquinta vs. Piotr Hallman
Main Card:
(Fox Sports 2 3PM ET/Noon PT)
John Lineker vs. Phil Harris
Magnus Cedenblad vs. Alessio Sakara
Norman Parke vs. Jon Tuck
Jimi Manuwa vs. Ryan Jimmo
Melvin Guillard vs. Ross Pearson
Mark Munoz vs. Lyoto Machida