An injury to “TUF” season seven winner Amir Sadollah has forced the welterweight fighter out of an upcoming UFC 143 bout versus Jorge ‘Lil’Monster’ Lopez (11-2). Stepping in on a months notice will be Matt ‘Deep Waters’ Riddle (5-3) at the Las Vegas show.
News of the change was announced by UFC officials at UFC.com on Tuesday.
TUF 7 winner Amir Sadollah has been injured. Stepping in to face Wanderlei-Silva trained striker Jorge Lopez will be welterweight Matthew Riddle. – verbal agreements are in for this matchup. Riddle was slated to scrap at this past weekend’s UFC 141, but forced to withdraw at the zero hour due to illness.
UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit is scheduled to take place on February 4, 2012 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada and is headlined by a interim welterweight title bout between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit.
Riddle steps into the bout on a two fight losing skid, having lost by decision to both Lance Benoist and Sean Pierson. The fight versus Benoist took place in September at UFN 25, while the loss to Pierson took place at UFC 124 in December 2010. Riddle is now 5-3 overall in the Octagon since debuting at the “TUF 7 Finale”.
Lopez debuted at the UFN 25 show, losing to Justin Edwards by decision at the New Orleans show. The loss ended a ten fight win streak for the Wand Fight Team member, who now must fight for his job security should he wish to remain in the UFC. ‘Lil’Monster’ has earned five victories by (T)KO and six by decision in his eleven victories.
Both men are likely fighting for a job as a loss for either man will likely see them served with a pink slip. I expect an exciting fight as they both look to impress as well as earn a spectacular win.