Paulo Thiago
A reported injury to welterweight Lance Benoist (6-2) has forced the fighter out of an upcoming UFC on FX 8 bout with Paulo Thiago (14-5).
Stepping in for Benoist will be undefeated Brazilian Michel Richard ‘Trator’ dos Prazeres (16-0) who meets his fellow countryman Thiago next month.
The change in opponents was identified by Brazilian news agency Globo Sport TV on Saturday.
UFC on FOX: Belfort vs. Rockhold (aka UFC on FX 8) is expected to take place on May 18, 2013 at the Arena Jaraguá in Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil. The main card will air live on FX while the prelim card is split between Fuel TV and streaming online video.
Prazeres is undefeated in his sixteen pro-matches earning one TKO finish, eight submissions and seven decision victories. ‘Trator’ hasn’t been in action since past June, picking up a decision win at a Shooto Brazil 30 event.
Thiago is just 1-4 in his last five matches inside the Octagon having stepped in the cage for his last bout in November of last year. At the UFC on FUEL TV 6 event Thiago would drop a decision to Dong Hyun Kim. Prior to that the Brazilian was knocked out by Siyar Bahadurzada at UFC on FUEL TV 2, and won a decision over David Mitchell at UFC 134.