Jeremy Stephens vs Gleison Tibau UFC Fight Night 18 bout booked with Efrain Escudero hurt

by MMAmania.com on Mar 12, 2009 8:58 AM EDT

Jeremy Stephens (14-4) will take on Gleison Tibau (16-6) -- not The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 8 lightweight winner, Efrain Escudero (11-0), as originally planned -- at UFC Fight Night 18 from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn., on April 1.

Escudero was forced to withdraw from the 155-pound contest because of a rib injury sustained this week while training for the showdown. Tibau has agreed to step in on three weeks notice and fill in for the collegiate wrestling standout.

The Brazilian is fresh off a submission victory over Rich Clementi at UFC Fight Night 17 just last month in a must-win situation -- he was riding a back-to-back losses, which is always precarious in the land of the UFC.

That was uncharted territory for the American Top Team (ATT) product — he won three of his first four fights inside the Octagon. And the only loss during that stretch was to Nick Diaz at UFC 65: "Bad Intentions" back in November 2006.

But Tibau recovered after dropping dropped consecutive bouts to perennial division threats Tyson Griffin and Joe Stevenson and is now out to make in two in a row in just as many months.

"Lil Heathen" is no stranger to last minute replacements -- he filled in for his mentor, Hermes Franca, when he was scratched from a fight against Joe Lauzon at UFC Fight Night 17. The heavy-handed fighter out of Iowa went on to lost the fight via second round submission (armbar).

Stephens earned "Knockout of the Night" at UFC 91: "Couture vs. Lesnar" after sending Rafael dos Anjos back to Brazil with a thundering upper cut that he threw from what appeared to be the center of the cage.

It was among the most devastating finishes of 2008.

Stephens now has six career fights inside the Octagon, winning three (Dos Anjos, Cole Miller and Diego Saraiva) contests and losing (Spencer Fisher, Din Thomas and Lauzon) the others.

He’d get a nice bump with a win over a name like Tibau, but he’ll need to do his best to stay upright for that to happen.

To check out the latest UFC Fight Night 18 fight card and rumors click here.

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Comments

Tibau is HUGE!!! Can’t see Jeremy winning this unless he catches him early…

Anybody heard any more news on when Amir will be fighting speaking of injured tough alum?

by McArthur on Mar 12, 2009 9:04 AM EDT reply actions

I know…that wave of popularity that Amir was riding has come to a screeching halt.

I got Stephens in this one.

I hope john comes back from his self-imposed exile…

by OJR on Mar 12, 2009 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions

me too…

by McArthur on Mar 12, 2009 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions

tibau is a beast …. he is a beast that hasn’t reached his full potential

i soon expect him to dramatically improve a bit like GSP did after the 1st hughes fight and how alves did after his loss to fitch

i’m saying Tibau via decision

by ufcaddict on Mar 12, 2009 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m saying Tibau via submission. The guy dismantled Clementi, which isn’t easy. (Though it did make me happy). He is also about as big as a LW fighter can get. Damn near a WW come fight time I bet.

by GodDamnMike on Mar 12, 2009 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions

good match up

by sac165 on Mar 12, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Theres been a few guys who’ve gone MIA: john, chefdaddy, bw, that guy who put up “the prodigy’s 4th biggest nuthugger”, and Adam G to name a few. Adam didn’t go insane or suicidal after 94 did he?

by Synyster on Mar 12, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Last I heard AdamG was hidden up in the heat ducts at Jackson’s camp with infrared cameras and tape recorders trying to get evidence to prove GSP cheated…haha

GSP GSP GSP!!! I liked Adam and i’m sure he’ll be back for BJ/Kenny cause nobody else is going to make those lists!

by McArthur on Mar 12, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I think those lists were just a one time deal, since GSP/Penn 2 was hyped up so much, and split MMA fans down the middle. Everyone was on one side or the other, hardly any were on the fence. Not so much with BJ/Kenny

by Synyster on Mar 12, 2009 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Who else is fighting on this card? This jackson guys boogus.

Amor de rey

by king criminales amor de rey on Mar 12, 2009 9:13 AM EDT reply actions

I was looking forward to see how much Efrain had improved. Stephens would have been a good test for him. I agree McArthur… tough fight for Stephens. Enough with this amor de rey crap. This isnt the world wide wangsta site, douche.

by allamerican on Mar 12, 2009 9:30 AM EDT reply actions