- AURELIO GETS NEW OPPONENT FOR UFC FIGHT NIGHT
by Ken Pishna - MMAWeekly.com (Photo courtesy of April Pishna)
Originally slated to face Spencer Fisher at UFC Fight Night 13 in Broomfield, Colo. Marcus Aurelio on Thursday received a new opponent for the April 2 bout. Ryan Roberts, according to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, has signed a bout agreement to face Aurelio.
Fisher withdrew from the initial bout due to a shoulder injury. It was then believed that Jim Miller, coming off of an impressive performance for Ring of Combat, would step in to face Aurelio. Miller, however, apparently has contractual obligations to the International Fight League that precluded him from competing for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Aurelio, a member of American Top Team, will be making his third appearance in the Octagon. He received a rough welcome to the UFC from Clay Guida, dropping a split decision in that bout, before bouncing back with a TKO victory over Luke Caudillo at UFC 78.
Fighting out of Omaha, Neb., Roberts has a professional fight record of 8-2. He currently holds the Battlequest lightweight championship and recently won a four-man tournament at Victory Fighting Championships. He trains as part of the MAMA's Boyz fight team out of Mid-America Martial Arts alongside Ryan Jensen, Jake Ellenberger, Chad Reiner, Justin James and Jason Brilz.
