Japanese middleweight Riki ‘Killer Bee’ Fukuda (17-5) broke his left knee in a car accident last Thursday night forcing him out of his upcoming UFC 133 bout with Rafael “Sapo” Natal (12-3-1).
Fukuda Tweeted (@rikifukuda) the news saying he’d have to undergo surgery for the injury.
– I had a car accident on 16th of July. I broke my left knee and it seems require surgery.
– I am sorry for everyone who supported me, especialy my fans, opponent, persons involved UFC. I will do my best.
Officials with the UFC have yet to release an official statement on Fukuda’s injury, nor has any news surfaced on a replacement for the Japanese fighter with a month-and-a-half before the bout was scheduled to take place.
UFC 133: Evans vs. Davisis scheduled to take place on August 6, 2011 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The event is headlined by a light heavyweight bout between former champ Rashad Evans and undefeated fighter Phil ‘Mr. Wonderful’ Davis.
Fukuda made his UFC debut last February, losing a controversial unanimous decision to Canadian fighter Nick Ring at UFC 127. UFC President Dana White felt so strongly that Fukuda had won the bout that he awarded the fighter his win bonus. Previous to the loss, ‘Killer Bee’ had won seven straight fights which includes defending the DEEP middleweight title last August. That was his last fight before signing with the UFC.
Natal is 0-1-1 in both of his UFC appearances, fighting Jesse Bongfeldt to a majority draw at UFC 124 last December, and losing a unanimous decision to Rich Attonito at UFC Fight Night 22 in September. He had won two straight previous to being signed by the UFC.