Edson Barboza (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Lightweight fighter Justin ‘J-Bomb’ Salas (10-4) has been forced out of an upcoming UFC on FX 7 bout with Brazilian Edson ‘Junior’ Barboza (10-1) due to an undisclosed injury. Stepping in as a replacement on two weeks notice will be another Brazilian, undefeated fighter Lucas ‘Mineiro’ Martins (11-0).
Officials with the promotion announced the change on Tuesday.
UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Bisping (aka UFC on FX 7) is scheduled to take place on January 19, 2012 at the Ginasio do Ibirapuera Arena in São Paulo, Brazil. The bout between Barboza and Martins will appear on the nights preliminary card.
Martins is a perfect 11-0 with ten finishes to his credit. He was in action twice last month, first at a MMA Rocks show on Dec. 8 winning by submission in 46-seconds over opponent Thiago Sampaio, and at a Jungle Fight 46 show on Dec. 13 earning a second round knockout over opponent Oberdan Vieira Tenorio.
Barboza suffered his first career loss in his last fight, suffering a first round TKO finish at the hands of Jamie Varner at UFC 146 last May. Previous to that Barboza had won ten straight including four wins inside the Octagon, which included three “Fight of the Night” bonuses. His last win came in January of last year at UFC 142 with a highlight reel spinning wheel kick knockout of Terry Etim.