The injury bug has struck again as former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Tarec Saffiedine (14-3, 0-0 UFC) has been forced out of his scheduled UFC debut at July’s UFC On FOX 8 event. Saffiedine was scheduled to take on fellow former Strikeforce fighter Robbie Lawler. Lawler (20-9 1 NC, 5-3 UFC) will now fight Siyar Bahadurzada (21-5-1, 1-1 UFC) on the fight card.
UFC officials announced the switch today.
Another injury switch-up: @tarecfighter Saffiedine injured, @siyarthegreat Bahadurzada will now face @ruthless_rl Robbie Lawler @ufconfox 8
— UFC (@ufc) June 4, 2013
Saffiedine was looking to establish himself as a UFC Welterweight Championship contender in his UFC debut. He defeated Nate Marquardt to win the Strikeforce championship in the last-ever fight in the Strikeforce promotion.
Bahadurzada will be making his third appearance inside the UFC’s Octagon. He is looking to rebound from a decision loss suffered at the hands of Dong Hyun Kim at UFC On FUEL TV 8 in March. He had won seven straight fights prior to that loss, including a 42-second knockout win over Paulo Thiago in his UFC debut.
Lawler will be fighting for the second time since making his return to the UFC. He scored a first-round knockout win over Josh Koscheck at UFC 157 in his UFC return, which also marked his return to the welterweight division. He had scored a win just once in his prior four bouts before the Koscheck fight.
UFC On FOX 8 takes place on July 27 from the Key Arena in Seattle, Washington. The main card airs on FOX while the preliminary card airs on both FX and Facebook.
Here is a rundown of the current UFC On FOX 8 fight card:
- Demetrious Johnson(c) vs. John Moraga- UFC Flyweight Championship bout
- Rory MacDonald vs. Jake Ellenberger
- Robbie Lawler vs. Siyar Bahadurzada
- Liz Carmouche vs. Jessica Andrade
- Michael Chiesa vs. Jorge Masvidal
- Bobby Green vs. Danny Castillo
- Mac Danzig vs. Melvin Guillard
- Brendan Schaub vs. Matt Mitrione
- Yves Edwards vs. Spencer Fisher
- Julie Kedzie vs. Germaine de Randamie
- Ed Herman vs. Trevor Smith
- Aaron Riley vs. Justin Salas
- John Albert vs. Yaotzin Meza
