McKenzie Injured; Tibau to Tackle Palaszewski at UFC 130
Brian Knapp May 6, 2011
Gleison Tibau will step in to face Bart Palaszewski. | Photo:
Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
An undisclosed injury has forced “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 12 quarterfinalist Cody McKenzie to withdraw from his scheduled lightweight duel with Bart Palaszewski at UFC 130 on May 28 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. American Top Team’s Gleison Tibau was named as his replacement.
Based in Coconut Creek, Fla., Tibau last competed at UFC 128 in March, when he took a split decision from Kurt Pellegrino at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. The hulking 27-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt has delivered more than half (12) of his 22 professional wins by knockout, technical knockout or submission. Tibau owns an 8-5 mark inside the Octagon.
Palaszewski will enter his promotional debut with wins in four of his past five fights. The 27-year-old Pole last fought at WEC 53 in December, when he dropped a split decision to Kamal Shalorus at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Ariz. A protégé of former WEC featherweight title contender Jeff Curran, Palaszewski has secured 27 of his 35 career victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission. Wins over WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, one-time International Fight League lightweight titleholder Ryan Schultz and “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 12 alum Kyle Watson anchor his resume.
A rematch pairing lightweight champion Frankie Edgar with unbeaten challenger Gray Maynard will headline UFC 130. The two world-ranked fighters fought to a draw at UFC 125 on New Year’s Day. In addition, UFC 130 will also feature a showdown pitting one-time light heavyweight king Quinton “Rampage” Jackson against “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 3 semifinalist Matt Hamill and a heavyweight duel matching former champion Frank Mir with “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 10 winner Roy Nelson.
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