Ninja Injured; Waldburger to Welcome Stumpf to UFC

Submission specialist Daniel "Ninja" Roberts has been forced to withdraw from Saturday's bout against TJ Waldburger due to injury, UFC president Dana White confirmed today. Stepping in for the welterweight will be 11-2 grappling ace and Jeff Curran protege Mike Stumpf.

Mike Lullo Faces Robert Peralta Sept 17 updated September 6
With Mackens Semerzier sidelined due to injury, newcomer and featherweight knockout artist Robert Peralta will make his UFC debut against Mike Lullo on September 17 in New Orleans, UFC president Dana White confirmed today.

Injuries Re-Shape New Orleans Fight Card updated August 31
TUF 9 star DaMarques Johnson has been injured and forced to withdraw from the welterweight bout against TUF 13 fighter Clay Harvison. Stepping in for Johnson is Seth Baczynski from season 11 of TUF.

Also on the September fight card, welterweight Justin Edwards from TUF 13 will welcome Jorge "Lil' Monster" Lopez, an 11-1 Wanderlei Silva protégé, to the UFC.

In non-TUF-related fight card news, Mackens Semerzier has also been injured and is out of his battle against Mike Lullo. A replacement will be announced soon.

Ninja vs. Waldburger on its way to the Big Easy updated July 29
Daniel Roberts and TJ Waldburger are heading to New Orleans this September for what should be an exciting showdown on the "Battle on the Bayou" card.

“A battle between welterweight submission specialists has been agreed to as TJ Waldburger will take on Daniel ‘Ninja’ Roberts at UFC Fight Night September 17," said UFC President Dana White.

Riddle to Welcome 5-0 Benoist to UFC

UFC president Dana White announced today that undefeated welterweight prospect Lance Benoist hasverbally agreed to make his UFC debut September 17 in New Orleans against always-aggressive TUF alum Matthew Riddle.

"Battle on the Bayou" gets Submission Battle in Sept. updated July 20
UFC President Dana White has announced another intriguing matchup for September's "Battle on the Bayou" card in New Orleans.

“It will be a submission showdown as verbal agreements are in for a fight between lightweight grappling specialists Vagner Rocha and Cody McKenzie in New Orleans on September 17.”

TUF Stars Collide at "Battle on the Bayou"
Verbal agreements are in for a welterweight match between Clay "Heavy Metal" Harvison and DaMarques "Darkness" Johnson at UFC Fight Night in New Orleans this September.

Harvison made it to the quarterfinals of TUF 13 as a member of Team Lesnar and defeated Justin Edwards in the prelims of the season finale. Johnson was runner-up on the US vs. UK season, and went on to win Submission of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses in his next two UFC outings.

Three Bouts Added to "Battle on the Bayou" Card updated July 18
Three intriguing matchups have been verbally agreed to for September 17th's "Battle on the Bayou" card in New Orleans, as rising lightweight star Evan Dunham faces TUF13's Shamar Bailey, featherweights Mackens Semerzier and Mike Lullo meet, and bantamweights Ken Stone and Donny Walker collide.

The Two Jakes to Headline in New Orleans
The main event for UFC Fight Night in New Orleans on September 17 has been verbally agreed to as Jake Shields takes on Jake "The Juggernaut" Ellenberger.

Shields recently took welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre the distance and ended his record streak of consecutive rounds won. The hard-hitting Ellenberger is one of the top prospects in the welterweight division having won eight of his last nine fights.

"Ellenberger is on a mission to get his first shot at a world title, and Shields is determined to get another crack at it," said UFC President Dana White. The televised bout is scheduled for three rounds.

Koch and Brookins to Battle on the Bayou updated June 10
An exciting featherweight bout is heading to New Orleans, with young guns Erik Koch and Jonathan Brookins taking to the Octagon on September 17th.

“Verbal agreements are in place for a featherweight showdown between Erik Koch and Jonathan Brookins, September 17 at UFC Fight Night in New Orleans," said UFC President Dana White. "Koch is one of the division's fastest rising stars and this will be Brookins’ first fight since winning The Ultimate Fighter, season 12.”

Battle on the Bayou Gets Its First Two Bouts
The UFC will hold its first event in the Big Easy since 2000 with Battle on the Bayou, and Dana White today confirmed that verbal agreements are in for two fights on that card.

Alan "The Talent" Belcher will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon in a middleweight showdown with Jason "The Athlete" MacDonald. MacDonald is coming off a submission win over Ryan Jensen at UFC 129; Belcher was riding a two fight win streak when he had to take a year off to recover from eye surgery.

In another middleweight matchup, Dongi "The Ox" Yang and Court "The Crusher" McGee will also go to war in NOLA. The 10-1 Yang recently scored an impressive TKO victory over Rob Kimmons, while 13-1 TUF 11 winner McGee is coming off an exciting submission victory.