This past weekend it emerged that UFC Fight night 88 main card fighter Tarec Saffiedine was on the verge of being forced out of his bout with Rick Story due to a cut on his knee, but he’s now been cleared to compete after all.
The UFC had been searching for a late notice replacement in the mean time, ahead of Sunday night’s show, but the decision not to pull him from the event straight away proved to be the right one, with doctor’s deeming within the past 24 hours that the 29 year-old is fit to fight.
That will surely be a big relief for the injury-prone fighter, who’s various ailments have meant that he’s only stepped into the Octagon three times in over four years since joining the UFC from Strikeforce in 2013.
Saffiedine was the Strikeforce organization’s last ever welterweight champion, defeating Nate Marquardt to seize the title in the promotion’s last ever show, and when he’s had the opportunity, ‘The Sponge’ has also proved his worth in the UFC.
So far, Saffiedine has defeated Hyun Gyu Lin and Jake Ellenberger by decision in the Octagon, though sandwiched in-between that was a third round TKO loss to one of the division’s best, Rory MacDonald.
That’s left Saffiedine perched at No.10 on the 170lb rankings, just one place above Story, who’s also had his injury woes of late, which means he hasn’t fought since a split decision win over Gunnar Nelson back in October of 2014.
