UFC on Fox 9: Anthony Pettis Injury Forces Title Fight Postponement, Two Fight Cards Shuffled

An injury to Anthony Pettis has forced the UFC lightweight champion out of his Dec. 14 UFC on Fox 9 title defense against Josh Thomson, UFC officials announced on Sunday evening.

Pettis and Thomson will face each other at a later date, and the TUF 18 Finale flyweight title fight between champion Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez will move from that card to the UFC on Fox 9 card as the new headliner.

Pettis suffered a knee injury, but was still expected to participate on the Fox card, according to a Saturday night report from Fox Sports citing UFC president Dana White. The injury, however, has now been deemed serious enough to force the champion off the card, pushing the title defense back on the calendar.

With the Johnson vs. Benavidez 125-pound title fight being moved from the Nov. 30 card in Las Vegas, the lightweight match-up between Gray Maynard and Nate Diaz will move from the co-main event to headlining slot. Given the short notice, the Maynard-Diaz bout will remain three rounds. UFC main events are typically five-round fights.

No timeline was given for when and where the postponed Pettis vs. Thomson fight will take place. MMAWeekly.com will have more news on this developing story as more information becomes available.