Antonio Braga Neto will have to wait a little longer to return to the Octagon.
UFC announced today that the jiu-jitsu specialist was forced to withdraw from UFC Fight Night 31 with an injury, and Brian Houston has signed with the organization to meet Derek Brunson on Nov. 6 in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
“I hurt my shoulder in training,” Braga Neto told MMAFighting.com on Tuesday. “I can’t move my right arm perfectly.”
Braga Neto was surprised that the UFC decided to remove him from the card and he still plans to fight again in 2013. The Brazilian first fought in the UFC back in June and he made quick work of Anthony Smith with a submission victory.
“I don’t know what exactly I hurt, but if it’s the muscle I’ll probably be able to train again in two weeks,” he said. “I believe I can beat (Brunson) with my arm like this and I wanted to fight. I’m frustrated, man, I really wanted to brawl.”
Houston (4-0) makes his UFC debut after three knockout wins in nine months. He’ll meet Strikeforce veteran Brunson (10-2), who stepped into the Octagon for the first time last December, scoring a unanimous decision victory over Chris Leben.