With Brian Stann injured, Shogun vs Vera to headline UFC on FOX

With Brian Stann, who was set to face Hector Lombard, being forced to withdraw from UFC on FOX, the new main event on August 4 will be a five-round light heavyweight battle between two of the best Muay Thai strikers in the game, Brandon Vera and former champion Shogun Rua.

Rua is riding the momentum of the fight of the century against Dan Henderson, while Vera is back in the win column and looking to make a statement after being sidelined earlier this year due to injury himself.

Rua is being plucked from the UFC 149 card in Calgary, where he was set to face Thiago Silva until Silva suffered an injury. Vera, meanwhile, was training for a bout with James Te Huna at the July FUEL TV event. A new opponent for Te Huna is expected to be named shortly.

“No one is more disappointed than I,” said Stann via Twitter. “Meant the world to headline a UFC.”

In other UFC on FOX 4 injury news, featherweight Pablo Garza has had to withdraw from a bout with Josh Grispi. Rani Yahya will step in as the the replacement, which may change Grispi’s game plan — Yahya is an ultra-dangerous grappling specialist with a near 90% finishing rate via submission.

Verbal agreements are in for both bouts.

More at UFC.com