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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
The UFC's battles with injuries in 2012 have been well documented, and up until Tuesday they've avoided any setbacks for their December fight cards. Not anymore.
A lightweight bout between Rafaello Oliveira and Michael Chiesa for the UFC on Fox 5 undercard has been affected, as Oliveira suffered a hand injury that has forced him out of the bout. Both Oliveira and Chiesa tweeted news of the injury.
That leaves Chiesa without an opponent for his first UFC bout outside of the confines of The Ultimate Fighter tournament. Chiesa won the UFC's first and thus far only live season of The Ultimate Fighter, submitting Al Iaquinta at the June finale. It was the culmination of a season-long story for Chiesa, whose father passed the weekend after his elimination round win to get into the house.
He'll likely stay on the card, as the UFC has over a month to find a replacement opponent. The Dec. 8 event will take place from Seattle's KeyArena, headlined by a Lightweight Championship bout between Ben Henderson and Nate Diaz.
Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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