Japanese striker Riki Fukuda (17-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) has been forced out of a UFC 133 bout with fellow middleweight Rafael "Sapo" Natal (12-3-1 MMA, 0-1-1 UFC).
In a Twitter update, Fukuda said he suffered a left-knee injury in a recent car accident. He didn't give a timetable for his return.
UFC officials have not officially announced the withdrawal or a possible replacement opponent for Natal.
UFC 133 takes place at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Aug. 6. The night's main card airs on pay-per-view, though Fukuda vs. Natal was slated for the preliminary card.
In his promotional debut, Fukuda suffered a very controversial loss to Nick Ring at UFC 127 in February. Fukuda appeared the clear-cut decision winner, but the judges ultimately awarded the fight to Ring. The questionable loss snapped the former DEEP champion and onetime DREAM fighter's seven-fight win streak.
The latest UFC 133 card now includes:
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view)
Phil Davis vs. Rashad Evans
Rich Franklin vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Vitor Belfort
Jorge Rivera vs. Alessio Sakara
Rory MacDonald vs. Mike Pyle
PRELIMINARY CARD
Alexander Gustafsson vs. Vladimir Matyushenko
Chad Mendes vs. Rani Yahya
Brian Ebersole vs. Dennis Hallman
Ivan Menjivar vs. Nick Pace
Johny Hendricks vs. Mike Pierce
Rafael "Sapo" Natal vs. TBA
Mike Brown vs. Nam Phan
Source: Riki Fukuda out of UFC 133 due to car-accident injury
