Bobby Green faces Josh Thomson, Abel Trujillo now awaits new matchup
With Michael Johnson forced out of UFC on FOX 12, Bobby Green (22-5 MMA, 3-0 UFC) has agreed to step in on short notice and face Josh Thomson (20-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC).
UFC officials today announced the new matchup.
Featuring a welterweight shootout between Robbie Lawler and Matt Brown, UFC on FOX 12 takes place July 26 at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. The main card, which includes the new Green vs. Thomson matchup, airs on FOX following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.
Green had been expected to face Abel Trujillo at UFC Fight 47 in a bout that was rescheduled from the recently canceled UFC 176 event. Trujillo is expected to remain on that card and face a replacement opponent.
Thomson returns to the cage for the first time since a narrow (and controversial) loss to former UFC champion Benson Henderson in January. The 35-year-old ex-Strikeforce titleholder briefly considered retirement after the defeat, which moved him to 4-4 in his past eight fights, but opted to fight on.
Green will bring a seven-fight winning streak into the matchup, including a perfect 3-0 start to his UFC career after going 4-1 under the Strikeforce banner before the two promotions’ merger. Green went perfect in 2013 with a “Submission of the Night†win over Jacob Volkmann, a TKO of James Krause and a decision win over Pat Healy this past December. He’ll have gone a little more than three years since his most recent loss when he meets Trujillo.
UFC Fight Night 47 takes place Aug. 16 at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine.
