The injury bug continues to decimate UFC 130. Less than two weeks after Cody McKenzie was forced to pull out of a fight with Bart Palaszewski, it's now Bartimus that's being forced out himself. Original late replacement Gleison Tibau will now face a man who's making his return to the UFC after four straight wins back in Brazil, Rafaello "Tractor" Oliveira. The change was confirmed by the UFC's webpage today:
Bart Palaszewski is out of his UFC 130 bout with Gleison Tibau due to injury, said Dana White today. Coming off a four-fight win streak, Rafaello "Tractor" Oliveira has verbally agreed to make his UFC return and face Tibau in a lightweight battle of Brazilian-born BJJ black belts.
Oliveira went 1-2 in his original UFC run, with a decision win over John Gunderson sandwiched by decision losses to Nik Lentz and Andre Winner. Olivera vs. Tibau is likely to be placed on the facebook portion of the telecast, where the Palaszewski/Tibau fight was scheduled to be shown.
Source: http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/5/19/21 ... at-ufc-130