The injury bug just took a big bite out of the upcoming UFC on FX 8 card as Top-10 middleweight contender Costa Philippou has been forced out of his scheduled bout due to a cut suffered in training just weeks out from his fight against former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.
With Philippou now out of the upcoming card in Brazil, the UFC has opted to make some switches in already existing bouts to give Jacare a new opponent while welcoming in a newcomer to fill another slot on the show.
Middleweight contender Chris Camozzi will get the call to move into the slot vacated by Philippou, and he will now face Jacare on the main card at UFC on FX 8.
Camozzi was already fighting on the card against Renzo Gracie black belt Rafael “Sapo” Natal, who will now receive a new opponent as well in the form of UFC newcomer Joao Zeferino.
UFC officials announced the changes via Twitter on Friday.
Translation: Changes in #UFCnoCombate2-Costa Philippou is out through injury. Alligator now faces @ChrisCamozzi and Frog takes the beginner João Zeferino.
When the UFC on FX 8 card was first made, Camozzi wasn’t even supposed to be a part of the proceedings, but injuries have not only put him on the show—he’s now in the co-main event.
Originally, Camozzi replaced The Ultimate Fighter runner-up C.B. Dollaway and was expected to face Cezar “Mutante” Ferreira on the main card at UFC on FX 8. Just days after signing on for the fight, however, Ferreira suffered an injury and was forced out of action.
Camozzi then received Natal’s name as a new opponent and remained on the UFC on FX 8 main card.
Now just weeks after preparing for that fight, Camozzi gets the opportunity to face a Top-10 opponent in Souza, who will make his UFC debut after a long campaign in Strikeforce.
Souza is considered to be one of the most dangerous ground practitioners in the sport, but he has no easy test in front of him now. Camozzi is a tough challenge, coming off four wins in a row.
The new fight between Souza and Camozzi is expected to serve as the co-main event for the show airing on FX on May 18 from Brazil, where former UFC champion Vitor Belfort will take on the last Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold in the night’s headline fight.
Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.
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