Report: Junior dos Santos Injured, Out of ‘TUF Brazil 3’ Finale Bout with Miocic

A hand injury has reportedly sidelined ex-UFC champ Junior dos Santos. | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

It appears as though Junior dos Santos will not return to the cage this month after all.

Brazilian outlet Combate reports that the former UFC heavyweight champion suffered an injury to his left thumb during training and has been forced to withdraw from his fight with up-and-comer Stipe Miocic. The bout was set to headline “The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3” finale on May 31 in Sao Paulo.

According to Grace Tourinho, the UFC’s managing director in Brazil, the company is currently seeking a new opponent for Miocic, or another fight to replace the heavyweight tilt.

“There’s not much time left before the event, and our office in Las Vegas is working on all possibilities,” Tourinho told Combate. “Everyone is moving to find a new main event, or a substitute for Junior dos Santos.”

A final bout order has yet to be announced for the event, which will also feature a welterweight bout between world-ranked Brazilian Demian Maia and Russian newcomer Alexander Yakovlev.