There is something preventing Jorge Rivera from fighting Alessio Sakara. First scheduled for UFC 118, the bout was rescheduled to UFC 122 because of an injury suffered by Rivera. At UFC 122, however, the bout was scrapped last minute when Sakara came down post-weigh-ins with flu-like symptoms. They were finally set to meet at UFC 133, but, alas, fate would not have it so. The ATT middleweight tore his ACL and now Rivera will be fighting someone else:
UFC 133 Fight Card: Philippou In For Injured Sakara, Paul Bradley To Face Rafael Natal
The injury bug has bitten UFC 133 again, with Alessio Sakara the latest casualty. Sakara's removal from his bout with Jorge Rivera (the third time the bout has hit the skids), has opened up a main card slot for Greek slugger Costa Philippou, who will now face "El Conquistador" on the August 6th card in Philadelphia. Stepping in to face Philippou's original opponent, Rafael Natal, will be 16-2, 1 NC Ultimate Fighter veteran Paul Bradley, who will be making his Octagon debut.
Philippou was originally slated to face Rafael Natal on this card, but that bout has been scrapped. Filling in for Natal is former season seven cast member of Spike TV's 'The Ultimate Fighter', Paul Bradley. BloodyElbow has a nice summation of Bradley's career status for those unfamiliar:
Bradley competed on the seventh season of The Ultimate Fighter and won his opening round fight, but was removed from the house just a few episodes later due to a contagious skin infection. Bradley never got a fight on the season finale and instead, has compiled an impressive 10-2 record on the regional circuit, with the two losses coming against current UFC welterweight stud Mike Pierce, and Strikeforce middleweight title contender, Luke Rockhold. A Minnesota native who trains with Sean Sherk and Nik Lentz at the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy, Bradley is currently on a three-fight winning streak, winning all three fights by submission, with the most recent taking place just this past weekend.
UFC 133 fight card:
Rashad Evans vs. Tito Ortiz
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Vitor Belfort
Jorge Rivera vs. Costantinos Phillippou
Rory MacDonald vs. Mike Pyle
Brian Ebersole vs. Dennis Hallman
Preliminary card:
See More:
