“I have no problem with you competing like this, but first you’re going to have to trim those bangs.”
There’s nothing funny about the ‘Injury Curse‘ that’s been pillaging the UFC 149 card of talent, and for once our piss-poor writing isn’t to blame. Last night Sherdog.com broke the news (and what was left of our hearts) that Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira has not fully recovered from the broken arm he suffered courtesy of a Frank Mir kimura back at UFC 140.
Some might say it was wishful thinking when we prematurely celebrated how quickly “Minotauro” was healing; others might say it was a slow news day and that a short video helped fill the void. Either way, Dr. Frankenstein is running low on corpses and won’t be able to swap out Big Nog’s arm in time for his July 21st duel with the rule breaking hard hitting Cheick Kongo.
In his stead the UFC is gloving-up Shawn Jordan. The former LSU fullback has won his last two bouts under the Zuffa banner; Jordan submitted Lavar Johnson in Strikeforce with the keylock that eluded Pat Barry and scored a second round TKO over Oli Thompson at “UFC on FX 2”.
Shockingly, this card still doesn’t take top honors as the most injury-plagued card of all time. For now UFC 149 is still headlined by the Urijah Faber-Renan Barao scrap, though the day is still young.
Here’s a quick recap of UFC 149′s injuries thus far:
Injury Replacement Roundup: Akiyama Out, Bahadurzada in Against Thiago Alves at UFC 149
Thiago Silva Injured, Glover Texiera Favored as Potential Replacement Against Mauricio Rua at UFC 149
UFC 149 Shakeup: Thiago Alves Injured, Chris Clements to Replace, Bibiano Fernandes Debuts Against Delorme
And Now Michael Bisping Is Injured: UFC 149 Sets Up Lombard vs. Boetsch, UFC on FOX 4 Adds Shogun vs. Vera Headliner
The UFC 149 Injury Curse Strikes Again: Jose Aldo Out, Faber vs. Barao New Main Event
UFC 149 Injury Report: Bibiano Fernandes Out, Koch Off the Card to Wait for Aldo [UPDATED] **Half-credit only, as Bibiano wasn’t officially signed**