Injuries force changes to UFC 149 lineup

A series of injuries and reshuffled fights has left tonight's Ultimate Fighting Championship card in Calgary, Alberta, with a completely different lineup than was originally announced.

Fighter after fighter was announced for the event in Canada only to be hurt or moved to fill in on another card.

"This is the winner," UFC president Dana White said as to where the event ranks historically in terms of changes. "We lost nine (fights) to injury, and we had to move two other fights, so I would say, yes, this is the craziest card of all time."

What remains of UFC 149 still looks intriguing, including a potentially explosive heavyweight bout, one of the most anticipated UFC debuts in quite some time and a main event interim bantamweight title fight.

Urijah Faber and Renan Barao will headline the card. Faber was due to fight bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz for the third time, but the interim title was created when Cruz tore his anterior cruciate ligament. Faber still wants to settle his rivalry with Cruz, but he thinks Barao, who is 28-0-1 since losing his professional debut, is a more interesting and fan-friendly matchup stylistically.

Despite being the biggest name on the reworked card, Faber isn't concerned about carrying the event.

"I don't feel pressured because I know I'm going to deliver," he said. "I've never had a dull fight in my life, and Barao is the type of fighter that will always have an exciting fight. I really feel like this has the chance to be the fight of the year.

"It's one thing to have guys that you know and to recognize their name. It's another thing to have guys that fight every time to the bitter end and put on great shows, and that's what this fight is about. It doesn't get more interesting than that."

Barao sees the fight not only as an opportunity to win a UFC title but also to increase his profile with the average fan who knows little about him beyond the winning streak.

"I think that I'm just not as well known by the American public," he said through a translator. "It's not a problem for me. It doesn't offend me or anything. I think where I need to show my skills and become known by them is up inside the octagon. I'll show everything I have inside the octagon, and I hope to leave the fans a fight to remember."

Hector Lombard also hopes to leave his mark in his UFC debut. The former Bellator champion, on a remarkable 24-0-1 run, is an instant middleweight contender and could get a title shot with a win tonight over Tim Boetsch.

Lombard, who competed for Cuba in judo at the 2000 Olympics, is also a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, but he prefers to rely on his power and has knocked out three of his last four opponents.

Heavyweight Cheick Kongo will fight former Louisiana State football player Shawn Jordan, an athletically gifted prospect.

The pay per view will air live at 7 p.m., with at least four preliminary fights on FX (Cable 24) at 5.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.