Lucas Martins out, Cody Gibson meets Aljamain Sterling at UFC 170
Next week’s UFC 170 card continues to get an overhaul.
Lucas Martins (14-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) is the latest victim of the injury bug. The Brazilian is out of his fight against Aljamain Sterling (8-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC). In his place steps Cody Gibson (11-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) on less than two weeks’ notice.
UFC officials announced the new matchup late Tuesday night.
UFC 170 takes place Feb. 22 at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Events Center. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass. The main event is a women’s bantamweight title fight between champ Ronda Rousey and fellow Olympic medalist Sara McMann.
Like Sterling, Gibson will be making his UFC debut. The Californian will come in riding a six-fight winning streak that includes three submissions and a knockout. He went 4-0 in 2013. The Tachi Palace Fights veteran has a resume that includes a win over UFC vet Walel Watson and WEC vet Chad George.
“Making it to the UFC has been a goal of mine for the last five years and it was amazing to finally have that goal come to fruition,†Gibson posted on his Facebook page. “… The opportunity is great, but it’s what I do with that opportunity that will tell the tale.â€
Sterling is giving up his bantamweight belt for the New Jersey-based Cage Fury Fighting Championships, where he’s won his past five bouts and won the title. Four of his five appearances for the promotion have ended in stoppage victories. He’s a product of the Matt Serra-Ray Longo team in New York.
Martins was going after his third straight win. Following a UFC debut loss to Edson Barboza, he knocked out Jeremy Larsen at UFC on FX 8, then choked out Ramiro Hernandez at UFC Fight Night 28.
With the change, the latest UFC 170 card now includes:
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
Ronda Rousey vs. Sara McMann – for women’s bantamweight title
Daniel Cormier vs. Rashad Evans
Rory MacDonald vs. Demian Maia
Mike Pyle vs. T.J. Waldburger
Stephen Thompson vs. Robert Whittaker
PRELIMINARY CARD (FOX Sports 1, 8 p.m. ET)
Alexis Davis vs. Jessica Eye
Raphael Assuncao vs. Pedro Munhoz
Cody Gibson vs. Aljamain Sterling
Zach Makovsky vs. Josh Sampo
PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass, 7 p.m. ET)
Erik Koch vs. Rafaello Oliveira
Ernest Chavez vs. Yosdenis Cedeno
