A heavily anticipated featherweight contest between Erik Koch (13-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) and Dustin Poirer (11-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) has been scrapped.
UFC officials today announced that Koch was injured in training and has been forced to withdraw from the planned UFC 143 matchup.
Poirer, who requested the matchup, now waits on a new opponent.
Featuring an interim welterweight title bout between former Strikeforce champ Nick Diaz and former WEC titleholder Carlos Condit, "UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit" takes place Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
The 23-year-old Koch most recently appeared at UFC Fight Night 25, where he outpointed "The Ultimate Fighter 12" winner Jonathan Brookins. That built on a devastating first-round knockout of Rafael Assuncao in his UFC debut at UFC 128.
The 22-year-old Poirier hammered Pablo Garza in the standup portion of their UFC on FOX 1 fight before coaxing a tapout by D'Arce choke in the second round. Previously, he outpointed savvy striker Jason Young at UFC 131 and handed near-contender Josh Grispi his first octagon loss at UFC 125.
The winner of the Koch-Poirier fight was expected to take second or third in line in the featherweight pecking order. Champ Jose Aldo next meets Chad Mendes at UFC 142 on Jan. 14 in Rio De Janeiro.
UFC officials today announced that Koch was injured in training and has been forced to withdraw from the planned UFC 143 matchup.
Poirer, who requested the matchup, now waits on a new opponent.
Featuring an interim welterweight title bout between former Strikeforce champ Nick Diaz and former WEC titleholder Carlos Condit, "UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit" takes place Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
The 23-year-old Koch most recently appeared at UFC Fight Night 25, where he outpointed "The Ultimate Fighter 12" winner Jonathan Brookins. That built on a devastating first-round knockout of Rafael Assuncao in his UFC debut at UFC 128.
The 22-year-old Poirier hammered Pablo Garza in the standup portion of their UFC on FOX 1 fight before coaxing a tapout by D'Arce choke in the second round. Previously, he outpointed savvy striker Jason Young at UFC 131 and handed near-contender Josh Grispi his first octagon loss at UFC 125.
The winner of the Koch-Poirier fight was expected to take second or third in line in the featherweight pecking order. Champ Jose Aldo next meets Chad Mendes at UFC 142 on Jan. 14 in Rio De Janeiro.