UFC bantamweight and Washington, D.C. native Mike Easton will face Ivan Menjivar at UFC 148, the UFC announced Saturday via Twitter. Easton steps in for Renan Barao, who was pulled from the fight with Menjivar to face Urijah Faber for the interim bantamweight title at the same event.
Faber was originally scheduled to face champion Dominick Cruz at UFC 148, but Cruz was forced to withdraw after tearing his ACL. UFC President Dana White confirmed widespread speculation Saturday evening during TUF: Live that Faber’s new opponent was, in fact, Barao.
Easton, 28, was originally slated to face Yves Jabouin at UFC on FUEL 3, but was forced to withdraw due to injury. He most recently competed at UFC on FX 1 where he defeated Jared Papazian by majority decision.
Menjivar, 29, last competed at UFC on FUEL TV 1 where he stopped John Albert with strikes in the first round.
UFC 148 takes place on July 7, 2012 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.