Injured Erik Koch replaced by Ricardo Lamas at UFC 143, Lamas to face Dustin Poirier – UFC News
The American mixed martial art (MMA) fighter Erik Koch was scheduled to fight against compatriot Dustin Poirier at Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 143. The event is set to take place on February 4, 2012. On December 21, 2010 it was announce that Koch has
been pulled out of the event due to an injury. His replacement fighter is American MMA fighter Ricardo Lamas. Now the bout is set between Poirier and Lamas for UFC 143.
According to UFC officials, Koch has faced an injury while he was training in his camp. The injury or the nature of it has not been disclosed by Koch or by the UFC management. Koch, who has been a featherweight fighter and doing great in his career, was compelled
to move out of the competition when he was on a winning streak. He has lost only one fight in his MMA career which began in January 2007. His sole loss came against Chad Mendes at World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) 47 in March 2010. He had a nine fight winning
run before the loss and he secured consecutive wins in four bouts after his loss.
Now with Lamas stepping in as the replacement fighter, he is ready to face Poirier. Lamas, the 29-year-old MMA fighter began his professional MMA career from January 2008 when he defeated compatriot MMA fighter Jake Corry. He faced two losses in his career
against Danny Castillo and Yuri Alcantara in August 2009 and December 2010 respectively. Lamas made his UFC debut in June 2011 with a success. He defeated Matt Grice at UFC Live event followed by a second win over Cub Swanson at UFC on FOX in November 2011.
On the other hand, Koch made his UFC debut at UFC 128 against Raphael Assuncao in March 2011. He has been on a winning roll of his own and would enter UFC 145 with a four fight winning streak behind his back. Both fighters are former contenders of the WEC.
They joined the UFC in 2011 to further extend their MMA careers. At UFC 143 they both would be looking for a win as they are fairly newcomers in the MMA promotion.
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