An injury to Swedish light heavyweight Jörgen Kruth (5-0) has forced the undefeated fighter out of his upcoming bout with French striker ‘The Snake’ Cyrille Diabaté (17-8-1).
Replacing Kruth will be undefeated Ring of Combat veteran Tom DeBlass (7-0) who steps in on ten days notice versus Diabaté at the upcoming UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. Silva event in Stockholm later this month.
DeBlass (pictured) posted the notice on Facebook, writing “The plan was to let an injury heal, but this is an opportunity I cannot let pass. Thanks everyone, and I’ll fight hard. Godspeed!”
UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. Silva is scheduled to take place on April 14, 2012 at the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. The main card will air live on FUEL TV and the prelim card on FX.
DeBlass is undefeated as a pro, earning his last win in February at a Ring of Combat 39 show where he submitted opponent Randy Smith in the first round. He has managed to earn two (T)KO wins, two submission victories, and three decisions as a pro.
Diabaté will look to bounce back from a loss after being submitted by Anthony Perosh last November at UFC 138. The defeat put’s ‘The Snake’s’ record at 2-2 in the Octagon. Diabaté’s other UFC appearances include a decision versus Steve Cantwell at UFC on Versus 3, a submission loss to Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 120 and a TKO finish of Luiz Cane at UFC 114.