Rafaello Oliveira Off UFC on FX Card in Nashville with Hand Injury

Newcomer Reza Madadi awaits new opponent

Rafaello Oliveira‘s quest for his first UFC victory in two years will be delayed.

Oliveira was scheduled to face Reza Madadi at the UFC’s debut on the FX cable channel next month in Nashville, Tenn. But instead, a hand injury will keep him out of the fight. Oliveira broke the news of his withdrawal from the bout on his Twitter feed Thursday, saying he was regretful he wouldn’t be able to fight in his adopted home state.

Oliveira (14-5, 1-4 UFC) is in his second stint in the UFC. After going 1-2, Oliveira was released after a unanimous decision loss to Andre Winner at UFC Fight Night 21. He went on to win four straight outside the promotion before getting a call back to face Gleison Tibau on short notice at UFC 130. But the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt was submitted for the first time in his career. At UFC on Versus 6 in October, Oliveira suffered a TKO loss to Yves Edwards, making the fight against Madadi likely a must-win to avoid another pink slip from the UFC.

Madadi (11-2) brings a six-fight winning streak into his UFC debut. The Swedish-Iranian lightweight holds notable wins over recent UFC signee Carlo Prater and UFC vets Rich Clementi and Junie Browning.

UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller takes place Jan. 20 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. It will be the UFC’s first trip to Music City since April 2009. Headlining the promotion’s first Fight Night card on FX under the new deal with Fox is a lightweight fight between recent contenders Melvin Guillard and Jim Miller.

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