UFC featherweight contender Ricardo Lamas has been removed from the upcoming UFC 162 card after he was left without an opponent.
Lamas was scheduled to fight “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung at the July 6 event, but Jung was pulled from the card and given a title shot against Jose Aldo in the UFC 163 main event when Aldo’s opponent Anthony Pettis suffered an injury that forced him out of the fight.
Lamas (13-2) is 4-0 in the UFC and at featherweight with wins over Matt Grice, Cub Swanson, Hatsu Hioki and Erik Koch.
According to UFC Tonight reporter Ariel Helwani, Jung (3-0 in the UFC) thinks Lamas should have gotten the title shot first, but The Korean Zombie is not going to forfeit his chance at winning the belt.
UFC president Dana White said after UFC 161 that if Lamas was pulled from the card he would still be paid his show money.
UFC 162 takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and is headlined by a middleweight title bout between Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman.
Varner vs. Tibau set for UFC 164
A lightweight bout between former WEC champion Jamie Varner and longtime UFC veteran Gleison Tibau is set for UFC 164 in August, Varner announced on Twitter Wednesday.
Varner (21-7-1, 2 NC) is coming off a split decision win over Melvin Guillard at UFC 155 in December.
Tibau (27-9) has alternated wins and losses in his last five bouts and recently submitted John Cholish in Brazil in May.
UFC 164 is headlined by a lightweight title bout between Benson Henderson and Cole Harbour, N.S.’s TJ Grant.
Struve calls out Nogueira
There could be a fan-friendly heavyweight battle in the making as Stefan Struve says he’s interested in fighting Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
Bigger they are, harder they fall huh @Minotauromma , lets back those words up and sign the contract, I'm waiting for you.. @danawhite @ufc
— Stefan Struve (@StefanStruve) June 19, 2013
Both popular heavyweights are coming off losses in which they suffered injuries.
Struve (25-6) had his jaw broken by Mark Hunt in a knockout loss in March, while Nogueira (34–8–1, 1 NC) suffered ligament damage in his elbow after being submitted with an armbar by Fabricio Werdum in Brazil June 8.
