Wallace Replaces Teixeira Against Heath at MFC 27

UFC light heavyweight veteran Rodney Wallace will compete in place of Brazilian Glover Teixeira in his showdown with David Heath at Maximum Fighting Championship 27, going down on Nov. 12 from the River Cree Resort and Casino in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

The bout alteration was first reported on the MFC Web site on Tuesday morning. According to the Canadian fight promotion, problems with Teixeira’s travel visa prevented the Brazilian from making the trip.

“Our entire organization is extremely disappointed that Mr. Teixeira’s camp could not get these travel issues sorted out, particularly since the fight against David Heath had been agreed upon several weeks ago. In fact, it was one of the very first fights booked for MFC 27,” said promotion owner Mark Pavelich.

Wallace is coming off three losses in as many bouts for the UFC. He was cut from the promotion on Sept. 23 and has not fought since his release. Prior to his three fight skid, “Sho Nuff The Master” had gone undefeated in his career, racking up two submissions and a knockout through nine fights. Wallace has never been finished, and his most notable victory to date came at the expense of Strikeforce light heavyweight competitor Antwain Britt in 2009.

Heath, another UFC castaway, is perhaps most famous for being on the business end of a Renato Sobral anaconda choke in 2007. In the second round of their UFC 74 contest, “Babalu” locked up the submission on an already-lacerated Heath. As the Brazilian squeezed tighter, Heath tapped out while blood poured from his cut. Sobral ignored the referee’s order to release the hold, squeezing even harder and causing Heath to pass out. Sobral himself was later released for the incident. Like Wallace, Heath dropped three straight inside the Octagon before receiving his walking papers. Since then, the native Oklahoman has found greener pastures, going 7-3 in his next 10 fights, though he holds just a 2-3 record in the MFC.