LAS VEGAS, NV – JUNE 01: Michael Chiesa holding the Ultimate Fighter trophy during The Ultimate Fighter Live Finale at the Pearl Theater at the Palms Casino Resort on June 1, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images via UFC.com)
‘The Ultimate Fighter: Live’ season winner, lightweight fighter Michael ‘Maverick’ Chiesa (8-0) has been forced out of his upcoming UFC on FOX 5 with Marcus ‘The Prospect’ LeVesseur (22-6).
News of his illness was announced by UFC officials via Twitter (@UFC) on Sunday night.
– TUF Live winner Michael Chiesa forced off Saturday’s Seattle card due to illness – get well soon, @mikemav22
With less than a week before the event date this Saturday (Dec. 8, 2012), and one bout already scrapped this past weekend due to injury (Lavar Johnson vs. Brendan Schaub) the UFC is certain to just pull the fight instead of opting for a replacement fighter.
UFC on FOX: Henderson vs. Diaz is scheduled for Dec. 8 at the KeyArena in Seattle, Washington and features a lightweight title bout between defending champ Benson Henderson versus top challenger Nate Diaz.
Chiesa won season 15 of TUF this past June, making his Octagon debut against fellow Team Faber teammate Al Iaquinta this past June. ‘Maverick’ would earn a first round submission win, sinking in a rear naked choke to force the tap to win the six-digit contract as well as the “Submission of the Night” bonus. The victory kept Chiesa’s record perfect at 8-0.
LeVesseur was a replacement for Chiesa’s original opponent Rafaello Oliveira who pulled out of the fight due to injury. The wrestler is 1-1 in the Octagon having earned a split decision against Carlo Prater this past October at the UFC on FOX 5 card. He debuted with the UFC this past May at the UFC on FUEL TV 3 show, losing via first round guillotine choke against Cody McKenzie.