Lavar 'Big' Johnson – Photo by Esther Lin for Strikeforce
Former Strikeforce fighter Lavar ‘Big’ Johnson (17-5) is getting another chance to make some big waves in the UFC’s heavyweight division, replacing the ‘Super Samoan’ Mark Hunt at next weeks upcoming UFC 146 event.
Hunt, who was scheduled to face Stefan ‘Skyscraper’ Struve (23-5) on the main card, was forced to withdraw from the event due to a knee injury, leaving Johnson just nine days to prepare for the fight.
UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Mir is scheduled to take place on May 26, 2012 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The newly minted bout between Struve and Johnson will appear on the pay-per-view card of the event.
In a release at UFC.com, both fighters offered comments on the matchup.
“I heard last night there was a chance I could get this fight and I accepted right away,” said Johnson. “You don’t get chances like this too much in life, so when you are lucky, you make the most of it. I took one week off after last fight [May 5] and then went back to the gym.”
““He’s looked impressive in his first two fights in the Octagon, but I’m gonna look even more impressive next week,” said Struve. “I want to thank him for stepping up on such short notice, but he’s gonna face the best Stefan Struve you’ve seen so far.”
Johnson has won both of his Octagon appearances, earning a first round TKO finish over Pat Barry earlier this month at UFC on FOX 3, and a knockout win against Joey Beltran at UFC on FOX 2 in January. Both victories earned Johnson the “Knockout of the Night” bonus. The wins erased back-to-back losses in his only appearances in the Strikeforce cage during 2011. Both were by submission.
Struve has won two straight and is 4-1 in his last five bouts. The last time fans saw the ‘Skyscraper’ in the Octagon was in February when he finished Dave Herman by TKO in the second round at the UFC on FUEL TV 1 event. His other recent victory was a second round submission finish of Barry in October at UFC on Versus 6.