The UFC 149 Injury Curse Strikes Again: Jose Aldo Out, Faber vs. Barao New Main Event


For the last time, Joe: One of these guys is a fictional character and the other one has a shoulder injury.

At this point, do we even need to update our most cursed MMA events of all time list to include UFC 149? Calling this card “injury plagued” is as brilliant of an observation as saying that airline food is typically not of high quality. For those of you who have lost track of the fighters who have pulled out of bouts on this card due to injury, allow me to quickly refresh your memory: Vitor Belfort, Thiago Silva, Thiago Alves, and Michael Bisping.

And now you can add UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo to that list as well.


For the last time, Joe: One of these guys is a fictional character and the other one has a shoulder injury.

At this point, do we even need to update our most cursed MMA events of all time list to include UFC 149? Calling this card “injury plagued” is as brilliant of an observation as saying that airline food is typically not of high quality. For those of you who have lost track of the fighters who have pulled out of bouts on this card due to injury, allow me to quickly refresh your memory: Vitor BelfortThiago SilvaThiago Alves, and Michael Bisping.

And now you can add UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo to that list as well.

Yesterday it was announced that Jose Aldo has suffered an undisclosed injury, and has been forced out of his UFC 149 headlining bout against Erik Koch. Taking over the main event slot will be an interim bantamweight title fight between Urijah Faber and Renan Barao, initially set as the co-main event for UFC 148. And not that it matters, but that fight was made possible by an injury to Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz.

For those of you keeping track, this summer has also seen injuries to Chad GriggsJon FitchBrian Stann, Pablo Garza and Edwin Figueroa shake up future cards. And to think, it’s only June.

While Erik Koch’s title fight has obviously been postponed, it is uncertain whether or not Koch will remain on the card. Perhaps the UFC will have him fight “The Korean Zombie” for an interim title? Oh wait…never mind.

Previously: And Now Michael Bisping Is Injured: UFC 149 Sets Up Lombard vs. Boetsch, UFC on FOX 4 Adds Shogun vs. Vera Headliner