Report: Derek Brunson injured, out of UFC 227 bout vs. Antonio Carlos Junior

It looks as if heavy-handed middleweight Derek Brunson will be unable to compete at next month’s UFC 227.

Combate reports that an eye injury has forced Brunson out of his scheduled matchup vs. Antonio Carlos Junior. UFC officials have not yet made an announcement on this injury. According to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, the plan is to re-book the fight at a later date.

Brunson (18-6) is seeking to get back in the win column after suffering a KO loss to Ronaldo Souza in the UFC on FOX 27 main event in January. Prior to that bout, he scored consecutive KO finishes of Daniel Kelly and Lyoto Machida.

Carlos Junior (10-2) is one of the more promising prospects in the 185-pound division. The TUF Brazil 3 heavyweight winner is coming off a rear-naked choke finish of veteran Tim Boetsch at UFC on FOX 29 in April. “Shoeface” has dispatched his opponents via rear-naked choke four times during his five-fight winning streak.

UFC 227 takes place at Staples Center on August 4th and is headlined by a bantamweight championship rematch between T.J. Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt, while flyweight king Demetrious Johnson has his rematch vs. Henry Cejudo.