Ricardo Funch replaces injured Paulo Thiago at UFC 142 against Mike Pyle – UFC News
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will be hosting UFC 142 on January 12, 2012 in Rio de Janerio, Brazil. One of the bouts for the welterweight division was set between American mixed martial art (MMA) fighter Mile Pyle and Brazilian
MMA fighter Paulo Thiago. On December 17, 2011, it was announced by UFC officials that Thiago has been pulled out of the fight due to some issues. According to reports, Brazilian MMA fighter Ricardo Funch has been booked against Pyle at UFC 142.
Funch, the 31-year-old MMA fighter made his UFC debut in December 2009 at UFC 107 against American MMA fighter Johny Hendricks but could not make a winning start. His losing streak in the UFC continued as he also lost the second
fight he had in the UFC at UFC 115 in June 2010 when he lost the bout to Canadian MMA fighter Claude Patrick.
For Funch, UFC 142 would certainly be a do or die situation for he has one more chance to prove his status as a worthy UFC fighter. He would be going to Brazil with eight wins and two losses. His last win came against American
MMA fighter Ryan Quinn at Premier FC 7, an event produced by the Premier Fighting Championship in December 2011. Funch remained undefeated for seven straight bouts when he made his professional MMA debut in September 2006.
According to news coming in from UFC officials Thiago has been taken out of the event because of the injury he sustained due to which it was impossible for him to fight against Pyle. The 36-year-old American MMA fighter, Pyle,
on the other hand, is having a rough ride in his MMA career.
He lost his bout against compatriot Jake Ellenberger at UFC 108 in January 2010 followed by three straight wins at UFC 115, UFC 120 and UFC 128. He lost to Canadian Rory MacDonald at UFC 133 in August 2011 and has not fight since
then.
The exclusion of the 30-year-old Thiago from UFC 142 was shocking news for UFC and MMA fans around the world. Ever since Thiago made his MMA debut in July 25, he remained unbeaten in eleven straight bouts. He did suffered three
losses from July 29 to October 2010 but with a win/loss ratio of 14/3, he could have proved to be a tough competitor against Pyle but his injury did not let that happen.
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