Australian heavyweight Mark Hunt has been forced to pull out of his upcoming fight against Stefan Struve at UFC 146 due to a knee injury.
He will instead be replaced by Lavar Johnson, who is coming off a first-round TKO victory over Pat Barry.
The news is both a golden opportunity for Johnson and a bitter disappointment for Hunt and his “army” of fans.
Victory over Struve will help Johnson consolidate his position among the heavyweights where he is still considered a journeyman fighter. Last year he had two back-to-back losses in Strikeforce before the Zuffa purchase brought him to the UFC.
He has since notched wo back-to-back victories, with the one against game fighter Barry two weeks ago, thrusting him into the limelight.
Hunt tore his miniscus in his knee in training and has been forced to pull out. In an interview with The MMA (After) Hour, Hunt said:
I’m so gutted about this. I’ve never pulled out of any fight; this is the first time I’ve ever had to pull out of any fight in my career.
I can’t really apologize [to my fans] because it’s not my fault. I do feel bad about everything; I would have loved to have performed…but I can’t apologize because it just happens.
Hunt expects it will take six weeks before he is able to return to training. He added that he would like to fight the winner of Struve and Johnson.
UFC 146, which features an all-heavyweight main card, has been one of the most volatile in the UFC’s history. It was supposed to be headlined by a title fight between Junior Dos Santos and Alistair Overeem. But Overeem’s failed drug test meant he was dropped and replaced by Frank Mir.
Mir himself was set to face former champion Cain Velasquez, but now he has been replaced by Antonio Silva, fresh from his move from Strikeforce.
The action will take place on May 26 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
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