Rafaello Oliveira – photo via UFC.com
Canadian lightweight John ‘The Bull’ Makdessi (11-2) has been forced to withdraw from this July’s upcoming UFC 162 event due to injury.
Stepping in for ‘The Bull’ will be the ‘Tractor’ Rafaello Oliveira (15-5) who will take on Edson ‘Junior’ Barboza (11-1) at the Las Vegas show.
Officials with the promotion announced the change late Thursday evening.
UFC 162: Silva vs. Weidman is expected to take place on July 6, 2013 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva is set to defend his belt in the headliner against No. 1 contender Chris Weidman.
Oliveira has been out of action since last summer when he won a decision over opponent Yoislandy Izquierdo at UFC 148. He did have a fight scheduled last December at UFC on FOX 5 against Michael Chiesa but broke his hand and had to withdraw from the event. ‘Tractor’ dropped his two prior matches losing to Yves Edwards and Gleison Tibau.
Barboza bounced back from the first defeat of his career last January by submitting fellow Brazilian Lucas Martins as part of UFC on FX 7. The defeat came in May of last year losing via first round TKO to Jamie Varner at UFC 146. Before the loss ‘Junior’ had won four straight matches in the Octagon.