The injury bug hasn’t died down in 2013, it’s just decided to shred the preliminary fights for the two January shows the UFC is holding. Middleweight Buddy Roberts not only has an injury, he has the flu, and MMA Junkie confirms he will not fight Michael Kuiper.
A bad case of the flu and an injury sustained in training will keep Buddy Roberts (12-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) out of UFC on FOX 6, sources close to the fighter today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
Roberts was slated to meet Michael Kuiper (12-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) on the event’s FX-televised preliminary card, which follows prelims on Facebook and a four-fight main card on FOX.
Roberts last fought in August, losing to Yushin Okami by TKO in the 2nd round. His lone UFC win is against Caio Magalhaes by unanimous decision.
Kuiper cannot catch a break. His original opponent was Thiago Perpetuo at UFC on FX 7. When Perpetuo pulled out, Caio Magalhaes stepped in. Magalhaes withdrew, and Kuiper was moved to UFC on FOX 6 against Roberts. Now that’s off the table, and Kuiper needs an opponent in the next 3 weeks or else he’ll end up with no fight at all.