Following the announcement that Erik Koch was forced to withdraw from UFC 143 after sustaining an injury during training, UFC officials have announced that Ricardo Lamas will step in as a replacement to face Dustin Poirier.
The contenders’ match between Koch (13-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) and Poirier (11-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) would have likely determined which of the two undefeated featherweights would be fast-tracked into top contender status.
Lamas (11-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC), is coming off a “Submission of the Night” performance at UFC on FOX 1, where he came back after nearly being submitted in the first round, and subsequently finished Cub Swanson with a fight-ending arm-triangle in the second.
Poirier’s last performance was also on the preliminary card of the UFC on FOX 1 event, where he dominated Pablo Garza on the feet before submitting him with a D’Arce choke in the second round.
“UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit” takes place Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, and will feature an interim welterweight title bout between former Strikeforce champ Nick Diaz and former WEC champion Carlos Condit.