Ultimate Fighting Championship officials announced a couple of injuries to the promotions upcoming UFC on FOX 2 card, as both Paul Sass (12-0) and Eddie Wineland (18-8-1) have both been forced to withdraw from the January event.
The promotion announced the news via Twitter Monday night (@UFC)
– Injuries hit @UFConFOX 2 fight card – Nik Lentz in for Paul Sass against Evan Dunham; Eddie Wineland injured, replacement vs. Bedford TBD
As noted, no replacement Wineland (pictured) has been named, and when one is they will meet TUF 14 fighter Johny ‘Brutal’ Bedford (18-9-1) in a bantamweight matchup. Wineland had been scheduled to face Demetrious Johnson at the FOX show but ‘Mighty Mouse’ was pulled to be a participant in the UFC’s inaugural flyweight tournament.
Stepping in for the undefeated Sass will be Nik ‘The Carny’ Lentz (21-4-2) who now meets Evan ’3-D’ Dunham (21-4-2, 1NC) at the Chicago event. Lentz is 0-1-1 in his last two and 4-1-1 in his last six. Lentz was beaten by Mark Bocek at UFC 140 earlier this month in Toronto, losing by unanimous decision. ‘The Carney’s’ previous fight was a “No Contest” versus Charles Oliveira which was originally credited as a submission loss to Lentz but the result was overturned by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission due to an illegal knee by the Brazilian to Lentz’ head.
Dunham bounced back from two straight losses by earning a unanimous decision against Shamar Bailey last September at UFN 25 in New Orleans. The defeats were at the hands of Melvin Guillard, by TKO at Fight for the Troops 2 last January, and by Sean Sherk at UFC 119 via split decision in a bout that earned both fighters the “Fight of the Night” bonus. The losses were the first of ’3-D’s’ career having won eleven straight at the time, including four in the Octagon.
UFC on FOX 2 (aka UFC on FOX: Evans vs. Davis) is scheduled to take place on January 28 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.