UFC 135 has lost its co-main event.
Welterweight Diego Sanchez has broken his hand, forcing him out of a scheduled bout with former champion Matt Hughes, UFC president Dana White confirmed in a Monday Twitter posting.
White said that a search was underway for a replacement, though time is running short to find a suitable opponent for Hughes. Less than three weeks remains until the Sept. 24 event in Denver.
Sanchez (23-4) was coming into the fight on the strength of a two-fight win streak after consecutive decision wins over Martin Kampmann and Paulo Thiago. Those victories put aside the memories of a two-fight losing skid.
There is currently no timetable for Sanchez’s return.
Hughes hasn’t fought since last November, when he faced BJ Penn at UFC 123, losing by first-round knockout. That loss snapped a three-fight win streak and dropped Hughes’ record to 45-8 all-time.
UFC 135 still boasts a main event pitting newly crowned light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones against former champ Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.