UFC News: Champion Injured, FOX Main Event Changed, EA Sports Voting Results, UFN Bonuses
- The performance bonuses for UFC Fight Night 32 — which took place Saturday night from the Goiania Arena in Goiania, Goias, Brazil — were handed out in the amount of $50,000. Omari Akhmedov and Thiago Perpetuo were awarded Fight of the Night for their wild one round contest, which ended in Akhmedov earning a knockout. Headliner Vitor Belfort earned Knockout of the Night for his first round head kick finish of Dan Henderson. Submission of the Night went to Adriano Martins for his second round armbar over Daron Cruickshank.
- The first round of voting for the second cover model on the upcoming EA Sports UFC videogame is over, with eight fighters getting eliminated from the pool. Michael Bisping beat out Urijah Faber to move on and will next be up against Chael Sonnen; Sonnen beat out Junior dos Santos for his second round spot. Miesha Tate got the vote over Ronda Rousey and will now go head to head with Alexander Gustafsson, who beat out Daniel Cormier. Jose Aldo was picked over Ben Henderson and is now pitted against Anthony Pettis, who beat out Demetrious Johnson. Finally, Georges St-Pierre got voted past Chris Weidman and will now face off with his UFC 167 opponent Johny Hendricks; Hendricks was voted past Dominick Cruz. The next round of voting closes November 17th.
- As reported on "FOX Sports Live" on FOX Sports 1, UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis has been forced out of his planned title defense against Josh Thomson with a knee injury. No word yet on what happens to Thomson, who stepped up to replace an injured TJ Grant in the fight. Pettis and Thomson will be replaced on the UFC on FOX 9 fight card — which takes place on December 14 — by Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez, who are contesting the flyweight title. Johnson and Benavidez were bumped up from the next TUF finale, which is scheduled for November 30; Nate Diaz and Gray Maynard will now headline that show.
Pettis has faced frequent injuries throughout his career, most recently missing out on a bout against UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo due to his damaged knee. No word yet on the severity of the injury or whether it will require surgery.