Rafaello Tractor (left) replaces J. Makdessi against E. Barboza at UFC 162. Photo: Josh Hedges
Brazilian lightweight Edson Barboza was scheduled to face John makdessi at UFC 162, on July 6th. However, the Canadian suffered an injury and will not be able to recover in time to fight on the stipulated date. For this reason, the Brazilian Rafaello Tractor was called up to replace Makdessi. The information was revealed by the American website MMA Fighting.
Trator is in his second stint in the UFC. In the first one, he won one fight out of three and was cut in March 2010. Rafaello then retraced his steps in smaller events, achieved four victories in the same number of fights fought, and received another chance.
Back in the UFC, Trator agreed to face Gleison Tibau at the last minute and ended up defeated by submission. He returned five months later and lost again, this time to Yves Edwards, by technical knockout. Rafaello saved his job by beating Cuban Yoislandy Izquierdo by decision at UFC 148. He would return in December against Michael chiesa, at UFC On FOX 5, but broke his hand and only returned to the octagon a year after his last fight.
Edson Barboza is considered one of Brazil's main hopes for success in the lightweight category. The Rio de Janeiro native from Nova Friburgo was undefeated in ten fights, four in the UFC, when he was surprised by former WEC champion Jamie Varner and ended up being knocked out at UFC 146. Barboza recovered with an easy victory over the then newcomer lucas mineiro, UFC Sao Paulo.
UFC 162, which will be headlined by a middleweight title fight between Anderson Silva e Chris Weidman, will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. On the occasion of the event, the UFC will also hold another edition of the International Fight Week fair.
Comments