Zach Makovsky tapped as late replacement for John Dodson at UFC on Fox 9

Get out your pumpkin shaped buckets because it's time for some fun sized treats.

After John Dodson went down to a knee injury on Tuesday, the UFC said that it would have a replacement in a hurry. Looking at the UFC's flyweight roster, there weren't a lot of fighters in the pocket who could be ready to take on a fighter of Jorgensen's talent and experience. John Lineker might have been a possibility, but that'd be a pretty big reward for a fighter who has consistently failed to make his agreed weight. The name on many people's lips was former Bellator champion, and current RFA champion Zach Makovsky. It appears that the will of the people has been granted, as MMAWeekly has the news.

MMAWeekly.com sources confirmed that RFA flyweight champion Zach Makovsky would replace Dodson, facing Scott Jorgensen at the Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, Calif.

Training out of the Philadelphia Fight Factory (former home of Eddie Alvarez) Makovsky is on a two fight win streak since being released from Bellator, following his split decision loss to Anthony Leone at bantamweight. In that time he's beaten two top flyweight prospects in Claudio Ledesma and Matt Manzanares. When I spoke to Makovsky last May, he made no bones about the fact that the UFC was firmly in his sights.

As a fighter, Makovsky is obviously a wrestler first and foremost. His boxing is tight and crisp, but he finds most of his success in persistent and powerful takedowns. Over his 16-4 record, he does have a few submission wins, but tends to be a decision fighter. Three of his four losses have been by submission. For his debut, he'll be facing a more boxing-centric wrestle boxer in Scott Jorgensen. Like Makovsky, Jorgensen tends to be a decision heavy fighter, with a couple of TKOs and submissions sprinkled throughout his 14-7 record. Jorgensen has been part of the Zuffa family since 2008, but is just 3-3 since the UFC/WEC merger. He'll be a stiff test for Makovsky, who I believe is the better wrestler, but may have a bit less to offer on the feet.

UFC on Fox 9 takes place on December 14 in Sacramento, California. The UFC haven't made the fight official yet, but word is that the contract is currently being hammered out. Here's a look at the complete card:

Demetrious Johnson vs. Joseph Benavidez (flyweight title fight)
Urijah Faber vs. Michael McDonald
Matt Brown vs. Carlos Condit
Nik Lentz vs. Chad Mendes
Ryan LaFlare vs. Court McGee
Scott Jorgensen vs. Zach Makovsky
Edson Barboza vs. Danny Castillo
Mac Danzig vs. Joe Lauzon
Bobby Green vs. Pat Healy
Roger Bowling vs. Abel Trujillo
Cody McKenzie vs. Sam Stout
Alptekin Ozkilic vs. Darren Uyenoyama

More from Bloody Elbow Follow @BloodyElbow Follow @SBNation

More From Bloody Elbow

Back to top ↑