Abel Trujillo vs. Bobby Green Rescheduled For UFC 176 In Los Angeles
June 28’s UFC Fight Night 44 from the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, was dealt a massive blow last week when undefeated lightweight contender Myles Jury was forced out of his anticipated bout with Abel Trujillo due to injury.
The hard-hitting Trujillo most recently won “Knockout of the Night” and “Fight of the Night” for is come-from-behind finish of former WEC Champion Jamie Varner at UFC 169. The up-and-coming Blackzilians prospect was thought to be fighting replacement Francisco Trevino at UFC Fight Night 44, but plans changed when injuries adversely affected all three involved fighters.
Today, UFC.com has reported that Trujillo has found a new opponent for a new event, and it’s one he nearly had before. “Killa” will take on surging “King” Bobby Green at UFC 176, which takes place on August 2 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The two were originally matched up at UFC 169 in February, but an injury to Green prompted Varner to step in.
The summer match-up promises to be a potentially explosive affair. Trujillo has picked up three wins in the Octagon since his UFC debut at UFC on FOX 5 in December 2012, with all three coming by way of striking stoppage. His only UFC loss is a UFC 160 decision to dominant grappler Khabib Nurmagomedov, and he did have a UFC Fight Night 27 No Contest against Roger Bowling that he later avenged at UFC on FOX 9.
Meanwhile, Green has put together his own impressive body of work in the UFC, winning three straight bouts in 2013. He submitted Jacob Volkmann, finished James Krause with a body kick, and won a decision over highly experienced veteran Pat Healy. The former King of the Cage lightweight champion has won seven straight bouts overall and has the potential to rise to the top of the ultra-stacked UFC lightweight arena.
Featuring the long-awaited (and now bad blood-fueled) featherweight title rematch between champion Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes, UFC 176 just added a ton of firepower to what could be a jam-packed lineup from L.A. Who is your pick to win this collision of powerful, rising prospects?
Photo: Joe Nicholson for USA TODAY Sports
