Sadollah vs. Lopez? Now It's Riddle vs. Martinez

UFC officials have confirmed that welterweight Jorge Lopez has been forced to withdraw from his UFC 143 bout against Matthew Riddle due to injury. Stepping in will be 8-1 Jackson's MMA fighter Henry Martinez. Riddle himself was tapped as a replacement on the fight card when Lopez' original opponent, Amir Sadollah, was injured.

Second Injury Twist in UFC 143 Matchup updated January 20
The welterweight matchup between Justin Edwards and Mike Stumpf has been completely overwritten as both men have withrdrawn due to injury.

Last week it was confirmed that Stephen Thompson would step in for Mike Stumpf. This week, Edwards was also injured. Stepping in is 7-1 submission ace Dan Stittgen, who will make his UFC debut alongside Thompson at UFC 143.

Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson Debuts at UFC 143 updated January 10
With Mike Stumpf forced out of UFC 143 due to injury, undefeated Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson has agreed to fill in and make his UFC debut on short notice. Thompson will now face TUF 13's Justin Edwards at the February 4 event in Las Vegas.

Third Opponent the Charm for The Diamond? updated January 5
Highly-touted featherweight prospect Dustin "The Diamond" Poirier has received yet another opponent for his UFC 143 bout in Las Vegas. After injuries sidelined original opponent Erik Koch and replacement Ricardo Lamas, Poirier will now face newcomer Max Holloway in a potential slugfest.

"Holloway is relatively new to the sport but possesses a fierce striking game and has already faced very experienced opposition with his rise into the spotlight," said UFC president Dana White. At 20 years old, the undefeated Holloway will step in as one of the youngest fighters in the UFC.

UFC 143's Sadollah, Lamas Both Injured updated January 3
Two more injuries have hit the February Las Vegas fight card.

TUF 7 winner Amir Sadollah has been injured. Stepping in to face Wanderlei-Silva trained striker Jorge Lopez will be welterweight Matthew Riddle. - verbal agreements are in for this matchup. Riddle was slated to scrap at this past weekend's UFC 141, but forced to withdraw at the zero hour due to illness.

Also on that card, featherweight Dustin Poirier has lost his second opponent, as Ricardo Lamas has been injured. Lamas was only recently announced as the replacement for Poirier's original opponent, Erik Koch, who was also hurt. A replacement is expected to be named shortly.

Starks vs. Short Fuse at UFC 143 updated December 10
Undefeated Clifford Starks has verbally agreed to put his 8-0 record on the line against Ed "Short Fuse" Herman in a middleweight matchup at UFC 143.

Starks made his UFC debut with a decision win over Dustin Jacoby in October; Herman's last two performances included a 48-second TKO and a devastating heel-hook victory. 

More Welterweight Action Scheduled for UFC 143 updated December 23
Despite welterweights Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit, Josh Koscheck, and Mike Pierce already topping the bill on February 4th's UFC 143 card in Las Vegas, there's always more room for top-notch 170-pounders, and that's what fans will get, as UFC President Dana White announced two more verbally agreed to bouts between Matt "The Immortal" Brown and Chris Cope, and Justin Edwards and Mike Stumpf.

Nelson vs. Werdum Set for UFC 143 updated December 21
Fresh from his knockout win over Mirko Cro Cop in October, Roy "Big Country" Nelson will welcome longtime contender Fabricio Werdum back to the Octagon for an intriguing heavyweight clash on February 4th's UFC </a>143 card in Las Vegas.

Lamas Replaces Koch in Deciding Featherweight Bout updated December 20
An injury has forced Erik Koch out of his UFC 143 contenders' match against Dustin Poirier, UFC president Dana White confirmed today. Fellow rising 145er Ricardo Lamas, has stepped up to fill the open slot.

"Lamas is coming off a knockout victory followed by a Submission of The
Night' win in his last two spectacular outings; while Poirier is a highly-touted power-punching prospect looking to make his case for a host at the title" said White. Both fighters have
verbally agreed to the bout.

Mike Pierce Gets Josh Koscheck at 143 updated December 8
"With Carlos Condit moving to face Nick Diaz for the interim welterweight championship, it will be powerhouse wrestler vs. powerhouse wrestler as Mike Pierce takes on Josh Koscheck at UFC </a>143," announced UFC president Dana White today.

Yesterday's card switch-up left Koscheck, who'd been slated to fight Condit, without an opponent. Pierce, who's quietly racked up wins in four of his last five outings, publicly lobbied for the high-profile matchup against Koscheck, first during a radio interview and then via Twitter.

Also on that card, two of the world's best bantamweights have verbally agreed to meet: Scott Jorgensen will battle Renan Barao, who hasn't lost in his last 30 fights - the longest unbeaten streak in the sport,

Diaz/Condit to Headline 143 for Interim Belt updated December 7
For the second time in two months, welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has been injured and forced to withdraw from a title defense.

"GSP blown acl will be out for 10 mos. Now [Carlos] Condit vs [Nick] Diaz for the interim welterweight title on Feb 4th in Las Vegas!!" UFC president Dana White tweeted.

St-Pierre was originally slated to face Diaz in the main event of UFC 137; Diaz was then replaced by Carlos Condit.

Ground, Striking Technicians Braced for UFC 143 updated Nov 29
Verbal agreements are in for a welterweight matchup between two exciting strikers as Wanderlei Silva protégé Jorge Lopez takes on Ultimate Fighter winner Amir Sadollah at UFC 143.

In addition, “undefeated Judo specialist Michael Kuiper has verbally agreed to make his UFC debut at UFC 143 against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion Rafael 'Sapo' Natal,” UFC president Dana White announced today.

The Super Bowl weekend fight card is headlined by the once-cancelled welterweight title scrap between reigning UFC champion Georges St-Pierre and former Strikeforce king Nick Diaz. Welterweight contenders Josh Koscheck and Carlos Condit will battle in the co-main event.

Bruce Leeroy Geared Up to Glow at UFC 143 updated November 17
A fan-friendly scrap is on tap with Edwin Figueroa  set to throw down with Alex "Bruce Leeroy" Caceres at UFC 143 in Las Vegas on February 4th. "Both fighters are coming off impressive victories in the bantamweight division," said UFC president Dana White. Verbal agreements are in place for the bout.

Koch, Poirier Lined Up for February Fireworks updated November 15
Two of the fastest-rising stars in the featherweight division will finally face off as Erik Koch and Dustin Poirier have verbally agreed to a bout at UFC </a>143, scheduled for Super Bowl weekend in Las Vegas.

Both Koch and Poirier are dynamic strikers and undefeated in the UFC. A win for either of the WEC vets would catapault him toward the top of the division.