Jamie Varner to Make UFC Return Versus Edson Barboza, Gabriel Gonzaga Off UFC 146 Card
By FCF Staff
Just a few weeks removed from UFC 146, the May 26th card has undergone some late shuffling, as the promotion has announced that Gabriel Gonzaga and Evan Dunham will no longer compete due to injuries.
As a result of Dunham’s undisclosed injury, former WEC lightweight champ Jamie Varner will make his return to the Octagon and will take on Edson Barboza (10-0).
Varner (19-6) has gone 3-1 since he excited from the WEC in 2010 and is coming off back-to-back wins over Nate Jolly and more recently Drew Fickett, while competing for Xtreme Fighting Championship.
Heavyweight Dave Herman (21-3) has agreed to step in for Gonzaga, who was preparing for a bout with Roy Nelson (16-7).
Herman is coming off a stoppage loss to Stefan Struve at a UFC on FUEL event in February, which ended the Sengoku and Bellator vet’s three fight win streak.
UFC 146 will be hosted by the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will feature a heavyweight bout between champion Junior dos Santos and former champ Frank Mir in the main event.