Rafaello Oliveira Replaces Injured John Makdessi, Meets Edson Barboza at UFC 162

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An injury has forced John Makdessi to withdraw from his meeting with Edson Barboza at UFC 162.

As a result, Barboza will now collide with Rafaello Oliveira at the July 6 event, which takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and is headlined by a middleweight title showdown pitting Anderson Silva against Chris Weidman. The pay-per-view offering will also see six high-level featherweights compete, as Chan Sung Jung, Frankie Edgar and Cub Swanson meet Ricardo Lamas, Charles Oliveira and Dennis Siver, respectively.

Oliveira, 31, has not competed since July of last year, when he snapped a two-fight losing streak by outpointing Floridan prospect Yoislandy Izquierdo. “Tractor” returned to the UFC in 2011 following a year outside the promotion, during which he won four straight fights. The Brazilian suffered a pair of stoppage losses upon his return, however, submitting to Gleison Tibau at UFC 130 before falling in a technical knockout to Yves Edwards at UFC Live 6.

Four years younger than his new foe, Barboza rattled off four straight wins to begin his Octagon run before underdog Jamie Varner handed the Brazilian his first career defeat in a first-round knockout last year. Following eight months away from the cage, Barboza returned to action on Jan. 19, finishing Lucas Martins in just 2:28 at UFC on FX 7.