A bantamweight bout set for this weekends UFC on Versus 6 card has seen a last minute change as Jeff Hougland (10-4) has been forced out of his fight with Mike ‘The Hulk’ Easton (10-1) due to injury. Stepping in on four-days notice is another UFC newcomer Byron Bloodworth (6-1) (pictured).
The change was announced by UFC officials via Twitter (@UFC) on Tuesday evening.
– Change to this weekend – bantamweight Jeff Hougland injured, @MikeEastonMMA will now face newcomer @ByronBloodworth cc: @SuckerPunchEnt
UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson (aka UFC on Versus 6) is scheduled to take place on October 1 at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. The event features a bantamweight title bout between champ Dominick Cruz versus top contender, Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson.
The bout marks the UFC debuts of both Easton and Bloodworth.
Easton has won five straight matches, which includes involves winning the UWC bantamweight title and defending it twice. Unfortunately though, ‘The Hulk’ hasn’t had a professional fight since October 2009 when he earned a split decision over Chase Beebe. It will be interesting to see if the Washington native is still capable of competing at the level he had been after such a long layoff.
Bloodworth brings a three fight win streak with him, having last competed in August at a Wild Bill’s Fight Night event in Georgia. At the event, he stopped opponent Scott Farhat with by second round knockout, earning his first stoppage of that nature. Bloodworth also has 2 submission wins and 3 victories by decision to his record.