Lightweight Cody McKenzie (12-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) has been forced off the preliminary card of UFC on FOX 2 with an undisclosed injury.
Stepping in for the guillotine specialist is Shane Roller (10-5 MMA, 1-2 UFC), who meets Michael Johnson (9-6 MMA, 1-2 UFC) at the FOX-televised event, which takes place Jan. 28 at United Center in Chicago.
Sources close to the event today confirmed the shuffle to MMAjunkie.com (
UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com).
The preliminary card of UFC on FOX 2 airs on FUEL TV.
It could be a make-or-break fight for Roller, whose dropped his past two bouts inside the octagon. The Team Takedown original suffered a third-round submission loss to T.J. Grant at UFC Versus 6 and was knocked out cold by Melvin Guillard at UFC 132.
The setbacks erased the memory of a spectacular octagon debut for the lightweight in which he knocked out Thiago Tavares at UFC on Versus 3.
Johnson may not be in much better a position. The veteran of "The Ultimate Fighter 12" was tapped out in the first round by submission specialist Paul Sass at UFC on Versus 6. Prior to that, he blew Eddie Faaloloto out of the water at UFC on Versus 4, but his graduation from the "TUF" house came with a decision loss to Jonathan Brookins that cost him the reality show crown.
