Matt Brown out of Dec. 14 UFC On FOX 9 event due to injury
One of the most highly anticipated fights for the remainder of 2013 has been scrapped after Matt Brown herniated two discs in his back, forcing him out of his scheduled bout against Carlos Condit at next weekend's UFC On FOX: Johnson vs. Benavidez 2 card.
The injury comes just seven days away from his scheduled bout against Condit, which was a featured bout on the main card airing live on FOX. Brown confirmed the injury via Twitter as well as independently to FOX Sports on Saturday.
"Thanks for all the support guys. I regret to inform all that I am out of the fight with Condit," Brown wrote. "I herniated 2 discs in my lower back this week."
With Brown out and very little time until the fight card takes place, the UFC has also pulled Condit from the show as well. Condit will be rebooked for a future show, although it's unknown at this time when that will be or which opponent may face him upon his return.
Brown's injury pushes him out of the biggest opportunity the former Ultimate Fighter competitor has had during his UFC career. A winner of six fights in a row, Brown surged into the top ten of the division this year, but facing Condit would have been a big step forward for the Ohio native with the former interim champion currently ranked at No. 2 in the world behind Johny Hendricks.
With Condit vs. Brown officially off the UFC On FOX card, lightweights Joe Lauzon and Mac Danzig will now get the vacated main card slot and open up the show on Saturday night.
The new bout order for UFC on FOX: Johnson vs. Benavidez 2 is as follows:
MAIN CARD ON FOX:
MAIN EVENT FOR THE UFC FLYWEIGHT TITLE
Demetrious Johnson vs. Joseph Benavidez
CO-MAIN EVENT:
Urijah Faber vs. Michael McDonald
Chad Mendes vs. Nik Lentz
Joe Lauzon vs. Mac Danzig
PRELIMINARY CARD ON FOX SPORTS 1:
Court McGee vs. Ryan LaFlare
Danny Castillo vs. Edson Barboza
Bobby Green vs. Pat Healy
Scott Jorgensen vs. Zach Makovsky
Sam Stout vs. Cody McKenzie
Abel Trujillo vs. Roger Bowling
Darren Uyenoyama vs. Alptekin Ozkilic
