Josh Burkman out at WSOF 11, promotion seeks replacement

Josh Burkman (27-10) has been forced out of a planned trilogy bout with Jon Fitch (25-6-1), and World Series of Fighting officials are currently seeking a replacement opponent.

Burkman today revealed he suffered an elbow injury in training and has been forced to withdraw from next month’s WSOF 11 event.

I’m out of #WSOF11 vs @jonfitchdotnet Hyperextended elbow. Ligament damage and bone bruise. 4 -6 week vacation and I’ll back. #Burkman

— Joshua Burkman (@JoshBurkman) June 11, 2014

MMAjunkie subsequently confirmed the injury with promotion officials.

WSOF 11 takes place July 5 at Ocean Center in Daytona, Fla. The night’s four-fight main card airs on NBC.

Fitch and Burkman first fought at UFC Fight Night 4 in 2006, when Fitch earned a submission victory. However, Burkman got his revenge a year ago and upset Fitch when both fighters later signed with WSOF.

Burkman is now 6-1 in his past seven fights. The lone loss came in a title fight against Steve Carl back in October, but Burkman responded with a first-round knockout of Tyler Stinson in March. A timetable for his return wasn’t immediately established.

Fitch, meanwhile, fights for the third time under the WSOF banner. The former UFC title challenger made his WSOF debut this past June 2013 but suffered the upset loss to Burkman. The longtime American Kickboxing Academy product bounced back with a hard-fought October win over Marcelo Alfaya and now fights for the first time in 2014.

For more on WSOF 11, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Josh Burkman)