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Mike Pyle in for Chris Wilson at UFC 98 in last-second switch
22 May 2009
Props: MMAJunkie
"Standby" welterweight Mike Pyle
(17-5-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) got the call he's been waiting for over the past four
days, as UFC officials have officially tapped the Xtreme Couture fighter as a
replacement for Chris Wilson (14-5 MMA, 1-2 UFC) on UFC 98's preliminary card.
As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com)
first reported on Tuesday, Pyle signed a contract with the
organization earlier in the week and was told to be prepared to step in on short
notice.
That notice will be just a matter of hours, as Pyle will
weigh-in for his UFC 98 bout with Brock Larson (25-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) later this
afternoon.
Pyle is a near-10-year veteran of MMA, having fought for some
of the world's top organizations. The Las Vegas resident has fought and won for
Affliction, WEC, Strikeforce, Sengoku and the now defunct EliteXC and IFL
organizations.
Pyle draws a tough assignment in his UFC debut. Larson
has put together an impeccable record in his six-and-a-half years as a
professional.
The official announcement for the switch did not offer a
reason for the last-minute change.
Nevada State Athletic Commission
Executive Director Keith Kizer did confirm with MMAjunkie.com earlier in the
week that he was "waiting for some additional medical information" from Wilson.
The (hopefully) final card for the injury-plagued UFC 98 now includes:
MAIN CARD
- Champ Rashad Evans vs. Lyoto Machida (for light-heavyweight title)
- Matt Hughes vs. Matt Serra
- Xavier Foupa-Pokam vs. Drew McFedries
- Dan Miller vs. Chael Sonnen
- Frank Edgar vs. Sean Sherk
PRELIMINARY CARD
- Mike Pyle vs. Chris Wilson
- Pat Barry vs. Tim Hague
- Kyle Bradley vs. Phillipe Nover
- Andre Gusmao vs. Krzysztof Soszynski
- Brandon Wolff vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida
- David Kaplan vs. George Roop
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