The injury bug strikes again.
Thiago Alves, who was kept out of the Octagon for a couple years due to multiple injuries and surgeries, was forced out of the UFC Fight Night 49 bout with Jordan Mein, the promotion announced Wednesday.
Instead of “Pitbull,” Mein will be facing welterweight prospect Brandon Thatch at the Fight Night card in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Aug. 23.
Thatch (11-1) returns to action following back-to-back dominant victories over Paulo Thiago and Justin Edwards in his first UFC appearances. Mein (28-9) enters the bout coming off a split decision victory over former Shooto welterweight champion Hernani Perpetuo in April.
UFC Fight Night 49 takes place at the BOK Center in Tulsa and is headlined by a lightweight showdown between former champion Ben Henderson and Brazil’s Rafael dos Anjos.