UFC newcomer Joey Beltran likely to replace Mostapha Al Turk at UFC 109
UFC newcomer Joey Beltran (10-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is likely to replace Mostapha Al Turk (6-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC) and fight fellow octagon rookie Rolles Gracie (3-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at Saturday's UFC 109 event.
Beltran's manager, Matt Stansell, today told MMAjunkie.com (
www.mmajunkie.com) that the fighter agreed to the bout and is expected to replace Al Turk, who's dealing with non-injury-related issues.
Although waiting for final word on Al Turk's status, Beltran tomorrow leaves for Las Vegas, which hosts UFC 109 on Feb. 6.
UFC 109 takes place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center and features a light-heavyweight headliner between former champs and UFC Hall of Famers Randy Couture and Mark Coleman. If finalized Beltran vs. Gracie would be the first fight on the night's un-televised preliminary card.
Multiple sources have pointed to either visa or paperwork/licensing issues as the reason for Al Turk's likely unavailability. However, Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer told MMAjunkie.com that the commission cleared the Brit's January application.
Additionally, Kizer said that as of Monday, the UFC hadn't sent a replacement fighter's name for approval.
Beltran, a longtime Total Combat and King of the Cage fighter, enters the UFC with six wins in his past seven fights, which included a first-round TKO of UFC vet Sherman Pendergarst at a May 2009 Bellator Fighting Championships event. He's posted stoppages (nine knockouts and one submission) in all 10 of his career wins.
One such knockout came on Jan. 16, when Beltran stopped recent UFC castoff Houston Alexander via strikes in the second round of a 5150 Combat League event. If he gets the Gracie fight, he'll have just three weeks between fights.
According to Beltran's official Web site, the deal with the UFC is a four-fight contract.
"I just signed a four-fight deal with the UFC," Beltran stated. "This has been what I have been working toward for the last five years of my life, so it feels good. I can't say who I'll be fighting, but I'll say I will be in Las Vegas very soon!"
Gracie, the son of Rolls Gracie (whose uncle was Helio Gracie), made his pro debut in 2007 with the International Fight League. The second-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt defeated Sam Holloway via submission but wouldn't fight again for nearly two years, when he returned at the China-based Art of War promotion in 2009 and moved his record to 3-0 with a pair of additional submission victories over Baga Agaev in May and Peter Graham in September.
