The injury bug continues to strike at a extremely high clip as former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis has withdrawn from his upcoming fight against Myles Jury. The fight was set to take place on the upcoming UFC on FOX 16 card, and UFC officials have announced that Edson Barboza will now replace Pettis and fight Jury.
The event will be headlined by the UFC bantamweight title fight rematch between champion TJ Dillashaw and former champion Renan Barao, and will take place on July 25 in Chicago’s United Center venue.
Barboza (15-3) is coming off a unanimous decision loss against Michael Johnson in his last outing in February. Barboza went into that fight riding consecutive victories, but was soundly beaten on the feet by Johnson who used a high pressured attack. This could be a big opportunity for Barboza to assert himself back into the mix of a crowded lightweight division.
Jury (15-1) is coming off his first career defeat at the hands of Donald Cerrone in January at UFC 182. Jury would have placed himself into title contention with a win over Cerrone, but was unable to withstand the striking game of “Cowboy”, and he’ll have another stiff test going up against Barboza.
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