BIG news coming in from USA Today and MMA Junkie, Erik Koch is out of his UFC 153 Featherweight title fight with Jose Aldo, and while this seems like another case of the injury bug derailing another UFC PPV, the replacement fighter is none other than Frankie Edgar.
USA TODAY Sports has learned that an undisclosed injury has forced Erik Koch (13-1, 2-0) to withdraw from a planned UFC 153 title fight with current featherweight champion Jose Aldo (21-1, 3-0), and Edgar has agreed to step into the evening's main event.
"Obviously, we've had a rough couple of weeks here at the UFC, and then sure enough, I walk in to work today, and Erik Koch is hurt," White told USA TODAY Sports. "But Frankie Edgar, being the stud and the warrior that he is, steps up and accepts this fight."
Well you've got your superfight now, MMA fans. With all due respect to the recovering Koch, this is about as huge an upgrade as you can get when the original fight changes due to injury. There will be no warm-up fight for Edgar, he's going straight for Jose Aldo's title on October 13th and he's doing it in Aldo's backyard.
SBN coverage of UFC 153: Aldo vs. Edgar
UPDATE: Ariel Helwani has details on Koch's injury.
According to Erik Koch's manager
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) August 31, 2012@mmainc, he suffered a knee injury yesterday and is "devastated."
... No timetable yet for his return. Hoping for year's end.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) August 31, 2012
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