By Ariel Helwani
- Video Reporter and Writer
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Demian Maia has been pulled from
UFN 22 on Sept. 15 after his original opponent
Alan Belcher was forced to pull out of the fight due to an eye injury and no replacement opponent was secured, MMA Fighting has learned.
MMA Fighting has also been able to confirm
MMA Junkie's initial report that
Nate Marquardt vs.
Rousimar Palhares has been bumped from UFC 118 to be the main event of UFN 22. The event will air live on Spike TV, and will serve as lead-in to the 12th season of
The Ultimate Fighter.
The organization was unable to find a solid replacement for Maia due to all the best candidates either being booked in another fight or on the injured list.
Maia is still hoping to fight sooner rather than later, as sources tell MMA Fighting that he is even open to fighting on the Aug. 28 UFC 118 card in Boston, perhaps filling up the slot that was left vacant when Marquardt vs. Palhares was moved to UFN 22.
Marquardt (29-9-2) is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Chael Sonnen in February, while Palhares has won three in row, most recently submitted Tomasz Drwal at UFC 111.
Also scheduled for the main card of UFN 22 is Mac Danzig vs. Matt Wiman II, Jim Miller vs. Gleison Tibau and Ross Pearson vs. Cole Miller. The event will be held at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, TX.
Read More: ufn 22, mma fighting exclusive, news, Demian Maia (MMA), Nate Marquardt (MMA), Rousimar Palhares (MMA)
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