The domino effect in the UFC’s bantamweight division caused by Dominick Cruz’s leg injury has ended with Mike Easton stepping in to face Ivan Menjivar this July at UFC 148.
The Dominator’s trip to the DL forced Urijah Faber to search for a new opponent, which he found in rising Brazilian star Renan Barao. Barao had been tapped to take on Jeff Hougland at UFC 148, but Hougland was called upon to fight on the UFC on Fuel TV card last week.
For a time, Hougland’s removal paired Menjivar and Barao against one another, but the latter was propositioned to challenge the California Kid in the UFC 148 co-main event.
Now, UFC.com reports that Menjivar will remain on the UFC 148 card and will take on Mike Easton.
“Barao was already scheduled to fight at UFC 148 against Ivan Menjivar. With Barao stepping in for the injured Dominick Cruz, Mike Easton will become Menjivar’s new opponent on July 7th.”
Menjivar is coming off three straight wins, including stoppages over Charlie Valencia and John Albert.
Easton is the winner of seven consecutive matches, including the first two contests of his UFC career. He holds wins over John Dodson and Chase Beebe, though Menjivar embodies the most accomplished opponent that the 28-year-old has faced to date.
A win would do wonders for either fighter as both are looking to propel themselves up the 135-pound ladder.
The fight will likely join UFC 148 as part of the event’s undercard rather than its pay-per-view portion.
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