UFC 73: Lytle opponent carousel continues to spin

by MMAmania.com on Jun 29, 2007 6:02 AM EDT in UFC News

Drew Fickett -- who was scheduled to fight Chris Lytle (22-14-5) -- has been scratched from UFC 73 with an injury. His replacement, according to MMAWeekly.com and other sources, is Jason Gilliam (9-1).

Fickett replaced Jeff Joslin last month -- the Canadian also had to withdraw from the bout because he hurt himself during training.

It is reported that Fickett hurt his knee in training, which is the reason he disappeared from the UFC 73 fight card section on UFC.com a few days ago.

This is bad news not only for Fickett but for us fans, too. His bout with Lytle was no doubt going to be competitive. Even the match up between Lytle and Joslin was enticing.

Gilliam will move up a weight class -- he usually fights at 155 pounds -- to welterweight to face the Indiana native and The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season four 170-pound finalist.

Nicknamed "The Gizzard," Gilliam also hails from the Hoosier State. Prior to making his Octagon debut at UFC 68 -- a first-round submission loss to Jamie Varner via rear naked choke -- he was undefeated.

This is without question a bit of a disappointment. However, Gilliam should be commended for stepping up and taking the tough fight on such short notice.

Who knows ... he could surprise a few folks -- me included.

UFC 73 is set for next Saturday, July 7, at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif. It will air live on pay-per-view (PPV) beginning at 10 p.m. ET.

For the full UFC 73 fight card -- which is still "stacked" despite this latest news -- click here.

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I dont know much about Gilliam, but I had picked Lytle to beat Fickett.

by c-war on Jun 29, 2007 8:14 AM EDT reply actions

Im just happy to see Lytle in there… great fighter.

by Luppers on Jun 29, 2007 9:04 AM EDT reply actions

i liked the joslin match and then i liked the fickett match but i don’t know about this guy gilliam movin up from lw, lytle should whoop this guy, at least i hope he does…this will be one fight that we won’t be seeing on the ppv unless its a brutal KO or something…

by tha spida on Jun 29, 2007 11:03 AM EDT reply actions

This is a real disappointment. Fickett was a great replacement, but Gilliam is probably only moving up because it is short notice. Couldn’t they find a true WW close to fighting weight?
tha spida, you may be right. I suspect Lytle will win by a brutal KO.

by SaVaGe on Jun 29, 2007 12:14 PM EDT reply actions

I can hear crickets chirpin’ … Who gives a shit about Travis Lutter. He should never been mentioned again.

by Kevin Kelly on Jun 29, 2007 12:57 PM EDT reply actions

I can hear crickets chirpin’ … Who gives a shit about Travis Lutter. He should never been mentioned again.

Whos talking about Lutter in this post besides you?

by UFCmania on Jun 29, 2007 1:01 PM EDT reply actions

Whos talking about Lutter in this post besides you?

Besides, did you see the Lutter/Sylvia fight? With almost nothing to gain (after missing weight), Lutter dominated that fight until the triangle.

by SaVaGe on Jun 29, 2007 1:04 PM EDT reply actions

Lutter/Silva TGIF

by SaVaGe on Jun 29, 2007 1:05 PM EDT reply actions

Im just happy to see Lytle in there… great fighter.

Me too. The guy is a work horse and a true gentlemen

by Stafo on Jun 29, 2007 2:58 PM EDT reply actions

Me too. The guy is a work horse and a true gentlemen

Lights out looks like a baby.

by IceFan on Jul 1, 2007 8:43 AM EDT reply actions

Lytle is one of the most under-rated fighters in MMA.
He looked great against matt serra and hughes, I also suspect a brutal KO at the hands of Lights out.

by Minus on Jul 2, 2007 3:48 PM EDT reply actions