Bryan Caraway
An undisclosed injury has forced Team Alpha Male bantamweight T.J. Dillashaw (6-1) out of his upcoming UFC on FOX 5 bout with Mike ‘The Hulk’ Easton (13-1). Stepping in for Dillashaw will be fellow TUF 14 cast member ‘Kid Lightning’ Bryan Caraway (17-5).
UFC officials announced the change Tuesday via Twitter (@UFCONFOX).
– With @TJDillashaw injured, Washington’s own @BryanCaraway has verbally agreed to face Mike Easton Dec. 8th @UFCONFOX in Seattle.
UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Diaz is expected to take place on December 8, 2012 at KeyArena in Seattle, Washington. The main card features a lightweight title bout between defending champ Benson Henderson and No. 1 contender Nate Diaz.
Caraway, the present boyfriend of former Strikeforce women’s champion Miesha Tate, is coming off a “Fight of the Night” performance in his 135-lbs debut this past July in Calgary, Alberta. At the Canadian event, ‘Kid Lightning’ was able to finish opponent Mitch Gagnon by third round submission. It was Caraway’s third straight victory and second with the UFC. He debuted at the TUF 14 Finale, finishing Dustin Neace with a rear-naked choke.
Easton will look for his ninth straight victory, and fourth inside the Octagon, when he meets Carawy at the Seattle event. ‘The Hulk’ last saw action in July, battling Ivan Menjivar to a decision result as part of UFC 148 beating ‘The Pride of El Salvador’ by scores of 30–27, 29–28, and 30–27. So far Easton has also managed to defeated Jared Papazian at UFC on FX 1 and Byron Bloodworth at UFC on Versus 6 via TKO.