Yes you read that headline correctly. Less than two weeks into 2015 and the UFC is reeling from yet another injury.

On Wednesday afternoon, it was revealed former UFC light heavyweight title contender Glover Teixeira has been forced to withdraw from his scheduled matchup against Rashad Evans after suffering a knee injury in camp. Both men were expected to appear in the main event of UFC Fight Night 61. MMAFighting was the first to report the news. There is currently no word on what the UFC’s plans are for Evans

As a result, the heavyweight matchup between Frank Mir and Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva has been slotted in as the new headliner for the February fight card. The two were originally scheduled to battle on the main card of UFC 184, which will take just a week after UFC Fight Night 61.

Mir (16-9), a former two-time UFC champion, will be looking to get back in the win column and put an end to a career-worst four fight losing streak, with his most recent being a decision loss to Alistair Overeem at UFC 169 in February. Prior to this string of defeats, the Jackson-Winklejon product earned three straight victories, including a Submission of the Year over Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 140, en route to earning a shot at then-champion Junior dos Santos’ belt. Mir will enter this bout holding several UFC heavyweight records, including most fights (23), wins (14), finishes (11), submissions (8) and fastest submission (45 seconds).

Bigfoot (18-6-1), a former UFC title contender, was last seen on the receiving end a of a first round knockout at the hands of Andrei Arlovski in the main event of UFC Fight Night 51 in September. Prior to this loss, in what has been labeled the greatest heavyweight fight in UFC history, the hulking Brazilian fought to a draw with current title contender Mark Hunt at UFC Fight Night 33 in December 2013. He will enter this bout with 16 career stoppage victories, including 13 knockouts and a UFC record of 2-3-1.

UFC Fight Night 61 is currently schedule to take place on February 22 at Gigantinho Gymnasium in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

About The Author

News Manager

José began his career as a mixed martial arts journalist while still enrolled at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Arizona State University. Since graduating in May 2013, he has attended dozens of high profile UFC fight cards as a credentialed member of the media, providing live cage side coverage through his articles and videos. His work has appeared on UFC.com, ArizonaSports.com and AZCentral. He is also currently one of the main contributors on Power MMA Show at Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, one of the first all MMA radio shows on a major radio station.