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The injuries for UFC 108 2.0 UFC 155 keep piling up. Karlos Vemola vs. Chris Leben was scheduled to open up the PPV broadcast, but of course that's not happening as Vemola has pulled out with an injury. In steps Derek Brunson according to USA Today.
Strikeforce veteran Derek Brunson is making his way to the UFC.
USA TODAY Sports learned Tuesday that Brunson has verbally agreed to replace an injured Karlos Vemola and now meets Chris Leben on the pay-per-view-opening bout of next week's UFC 155 event.
Brunson (9-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is a Strikeforce veteran who most recently was knocked out by Jacare Souza (of all people) in August. Prior to that he suffered his first loss as a pro via split decision against Kendall Grove, a fight Brunson took on short notice.
Leben himself hasn't fought in over a year following a failed drug test at UFC 138, a TKO loss to Mark Munoz. He's noted for his heavy hands and iron chin, although he's been battered in his last two losses against Brian Stann and the aforementioned Munoz.
In pure honesty I can't sell this as competitive at all unless you weigh-in Leben's ring rust. That's about it. Anything that isn't a Leben KO win would say a lot more about Leben as a fighter than Brunson.
UFC 155, which takes place in Las Vegas on December 29th, is headlined by a heavyweight title rematch between champion Junior dos Santos and challenger/former champion Cain Velasquez. Leben/Brunson will remain on the main card.
SBN coverage of UFC 155: Dos Santos vs. Velasquez II
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