Just a few days ago news surfaced that Al Iaquinta’s (5-2-1) opponent lightweight Joe Proctor (8-2) had been forced out of their upcoming UFC 159 bout due to injury.
Now news comes that Iaquinta is out with an injury himself, explaining to FightLine.com that he re-injured his leg “last Saturday.”
“I have been training through an injury to my leg the past six weeks, re-injuring it again a little more seriously last Saturday,” said Iaquinta, in an interview with FightLine Thursday. “I was going to push through it and fight anyway. When I heard Joe pulled out, I decided not to fight at UFC 159 and rehab my injury back to 100-percent before taking another fight.”
With both fighters injured, and just a few weeks away from the event, the promotion is certain to not book another match to the New Jersey event, dropping the total matches from thirteen to twelve.
UFC 159: Jones vs. Sonnen is expected to take place on April 27, 2013 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Iaquinta hasn’t seen the inside of the Octagon since last June when he lost The Ultimate Fighter 15 to Michael Chiesa via technical submission.
Proctor also appeared at the TUF 15 Finale but went on to lose by decision to Ramsey Nijem at UFC on FOX 5 last December.