The Ultimate Fighting Championship announced a change of opponents on Wednesday night for the upcoming UFC 130 event. Japanese fighter Norifumi “KID” Yamamoto has been forced to withdraw from his bout with Chris “Kamikaze” Cariaso (11-2) due to injury, and is now being replaced by Michael “Mayday” McDonald (12-1).
“Kid Yamamoto has withdrawn from his May 28th bout vs Chris Cariaso due to injury,” said UFC President Dana White. “In his place will be UFC’s youngest fighter and one of it’s most exciting, Michael McDonald, who is coming off a recent Fight of The Night performance. Chris Cariaso carries a great record of his own with a fast style and he plans on cementing his place in the bantamweight division with a win over the highly touted prospect. Both have verbally agreed to the fight.”
UFC 130 is just over a month away and is set to take place on May 28 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Cariaso made his UFC debut in January, earning a unanimous decision over Will Campuzano at the UFC: Fight for the Troops 2 event in Texas. That victory erased a recent loss, putting him at 1-1 in his last two fights but 4-1 in his last five. “Kamikaze” lost to Renan Barão by submission at the final WEC event in December, WEC 53, and won his only other WEC appearance by earning a unanimous decision victory over Rafael Rebello at WEC 49.
McDonald also debuted with the UFC in his last fight, winning a unanimous decision against Edwin Figueroa at the UFC Fight Night 24 event in Seattle last month. The bout earned both men the “Fight of the Night” bonus from the UFC President, it was was “Mayday’s” fifth straight victory, and his second under the Zuffa banner. He appeared on the WEC 52 card last November against Clint Godfrey, earning a quick first round submission at the event.