Author: MMAjunkie.com Staff [mmajunkie-staff]

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Welterweight Rob Kimmons has been forced to withdraw from a previously announced fight with Mike Pierce at UFC on Versus 1 and will be replaced by UFC newcomer Julio Paulino.

Kimmons’ camp was unavailable for comment about the injury; however, sources close to the event told MMAjunkie.com that the new match-up is expected to be finalized shortly.

UFC on Versus 1 takes place on March 21 at the 1STBANK Center (formerly
The Odeum Colorado and Broomfield Event Center) in Broomfield, Colo.

The show must go on.

After weeks of speculation about Fedor Emelianenko’s participation on Strikeforce’s second network-televised card, sources informed MMAjunkie.com on Friday that the top ranked heavyweight is not likely to headline “Strikeforce on CBS” – but the event is set for April 17 at the Sommet Center in Nashville. Tenn.

CBS and Strikeforce hope to announce the event’s full card in a formal press release on Monday, sources said.

A pair of heavyweight strikers collide in June at UFC 115 now that Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic (26-7-2 MMA, 3-3 UFC) and Pat Barry (5-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) have agreed to a matchup.

Sources close to the event today told MMAjunkie.com bout agreement should be distributed shortly and that the competitors were told it’ll be part of the night’s pay-per-view main card. MMAScrapsRadio.com first reported the fight.

Barry initially was expected to fight Gilbert Yvel (36-14-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) at the June 12 event.

Although initially expected to fight Pat Barry (5-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC), heavyweight Gilbert Yvel (36-14-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) instead will fight Ben Rothwell (30-7 MMA, 0-1 UFC) in June at UFC 115.

Sources close to the event today confirmed the change with MMAjunkie.com and said verbal agreements are in place for the bout.

UFC 115 is expected to take place June 12 at GM Place in Vancouver, British Columbia. The night’s main card airs on pay-per-view.

A previously reported lightweight bout between British veteran Terry Etim (14-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) and Brazilian Rafael dos Anjos (13-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC) is the final addition to April’s UFC 112 televised main card.

The UFC also today made official two preliminary card fights: lightweights Paul Kelly (9-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) vs. Matt Veach (11-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and light heavyweights Phil Davis (5-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) vs. Alexander Gustafsson (9-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC).

UFC 112, which airs on pay-per-view, takes place at Concert Arena (at the Ferrari World theme park on Yas Island) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.