Jason MacDonald and Tim Hague, two veteran Canadian fighters who were recently released by the UFC, were granted a second chance to make a run in the organization due to last-minute injuries on next weekend's UFC 113 card in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The promotion officially announced the changes late this week.In middleweight action, MacDonald will replace Nick Catone against John Salter, while Hague will replace heavyweight newcomer Chad Corvin against Joey Beltran.
MacDonald (24-13), who was released by the organization after losing to Nate Quarry at UFC 97 last April in Montreal, has won three straight in three different Canadian promotions. His most notable win came just last week against veteran Matt Horwich in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He's 5-5 inside the Octagon.
MacDonald is especially lucky to be receiving another shot in the UFC because David Loiseau was offered the fight against Salter first, but when the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux (the Quebec athletic commission) delayed its approval of Loiseau's license due to an open investigation into the sale of a promotion he once owned a stake in (XMMA) to a group of individuals who are being investigated by the authorities, the UFC offered the fight to "The Athlete" instead.
Loiseau applied for the new license on Monday and was granted it on Wednesday. Unfortunately for Loiseau, the UFC had already offered the fight to MacDonald by the time he was cleared of any wrongdoing.
MacDonald vs. Salter is scheduled to be the first fight of the night at the Bell Centre. Salter (4-1) lost his UFC debut to Gerald Harris in January.
Meanwhile, Hague (10-3) was released following a somewhat controversial majority decision loss to Chris Tuchscherer at UFC 109 in February. He hasn't fought since then. He is 1-2 inside the Octagon.
Beltran (11-3) won his Octagon debut against Rolles Gracie in February.
It was also recently announced that Joe Doerksen (44-12), a third Canadian veteran, was given another chance to fight in the organization after Tim Credeur was forced to withdraw from his middleweight fight against Tom Lawlor due to injury. "El Dirte" last competed in the Octagon at UFC 83 and holds a 1-6 record in the promotion.
There are seven Canadian fighters in total fighting on the card.
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