Igor Pokrajac Replaces Injured Anthony Perosh, Faces Joey Beltran at UFC on FX 6

Perosh was forced to withdraw from the booking this week due to a broken toe. UFC on FX 6 takes place Dec. 15 at Gold Coast Convention Center in Gold Coast, Australia, but airs on Dec. 14 in the United States due to the time difference. The event serves as the live finale for “The Ultimate Fighter: Australia vs. U.K.” and will feature a coaches’ collision between George Sotiropoulos and Ross Pearson in the evening’s main event.

Pokrajac, 33, saw a three-fight winning streak halted in his last in-cage appearance, as “The Duke” submitted to a Vinny Magalhaes armbar on Sept. 22 at UFC 152. An eight-fight Octagon veteran, the Croatian last year earned consecutive UFC victories for the first time, finishing Todd Brown and Krzysztof Soszynski. Pokrajac then kicked off 2012 with a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over heavy-handed Brazilian Fabio Maldonado on May 15 at UFC on Fuel TV 3.

Three years younger than his foe, Beltran received his UFC release this past January following consecutive heavyweight defeats, only to return to the Octagon less than six months later at 205 pounds. Known for his toughness and durability, the “Mexicutioner” took James Te Huna the distance in his promotional return at UFC on Fuel TV 4, despite absorbing serious punishment in the early going. Beltran holds a UFC record of 4-5 and owns 11 of his 14 career victories by way of knockout.