Brazilian striker Fabio Maldonado (18-3) has withdrawn from his upcoming October appearance on the UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson card due to injury.
UFC officials announced his withdrawal on Wednesday via Twitter (@UFC), noting that the search was on for a replacement to face Aaron ‘Big Red’ Rosa (16-4) at the Washington D.C. event.
– Wishing a speedy recovery to Fabio @MaldonadoMMA – injured and out of his UFC on VS6 light heavyweight fight vs. Rosa.
UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson is scheduled to take place on October 1, 2011 at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. The event is headlined by a UFC bantamweight title match between champ Dominick Cruz and Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson. Their bout represents the first title fight on free television since UFC 75 back in September 2007.
Maldonado had an eleven-fight win streak stopped by Kyle Kingsbury last June, losing to ‘Kingsbu’ by unanimous decision at the TUF 13 Finale. His previous Octagon appearance was in October, a UFC 120 TKO victory over James McSweeney.