Houston Alexander latest victim of UFC 98 injury bug, scratched from May 23 event with broken hand

by Jesse Holland on May 3, 2009 8:43 PM EDT Comment 48 comments

Free-falling light heavyweight Houston Alexander has been scratched from his fight against Andre Gusmao at UFC 98 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 23 because of a broken hand suffered during training.

The UFC confirmed the injury earlier today and is expected to name his replacement shortly.

This is the third bout within the past four days to undergo a change in competitors. Late last week, James Irvin was replaced by Xavier Foupa-Pokam against Drew McFedries after tearing his knee and postponing his middleweight debut.

Later that day, Chael Sonnen was tapped to replace an injured Yushin Okami opposite Dan Miller after "Thunder," like "The Sandman," did serious damage to his knee.

Frank Mir, Quinton Jackson and Josh Koscheck were all attached to this card at one point as well -- before injuries gave them the boot.

"The Assassin" now has the honor of joining that illustrious fraternity.

Alexander (8-4) was relatively unknown to the masses until he burst onto the scene with two destructive performances inside the Octagon, taking out top contender Keith Jardine in his debut back at UFC 71: "Liddell vs. Jackson" in May 2007 and then crumbling Alessio Sakara at UFC 75: "Champion vs. Champion" less than four months later.

The Nebraskan, however, quickly returned to Earth — practically crash landing with three straight losses to Thiago Silva at UFC 78, James Irvin Fight Night 13 and Eric Schafer at Fight Night 15.

UFC President Dana White indicated before his most recent loss to Schafer that Alexander needed a win or would risk having to take fights in smaller organizations and win his way back into the Octagon for another opportunity to shine.

It appeared that the charismatic father of six would get at least once more chance to prove he belongs with the top mixed martial arts promotion in the world -- until this latest setback that could keep him out of action for several months.

Stay tuned.

UFC 98 will feature (we hope) the light heavyweight title fight between Rashad Evans and undefeated challenger Lyoto Machida. Also on the May 23 card, former UFC welterweight champions Matt Hughes and Matt Serra will finally settle their eternal grudge match.

For the latest UFC 98 fight card and rumors click here.

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damn it, i wanted houston to get back on track

by J.Mile on May 3, 2009 8:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

me too, just hope he recovers good..

by RoB on May 3, 2009 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is UFC 85 all over again. Just waiting until something happens that screws machida out of his title fight.

by NameNotRequired on May 3, 2009 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Seriously. Next thing you know Machida tears a ligament, Hughes blows out his knee again, and Sherk throws out his back. Dave Kaplan vs. George Roop will wind up the main event.

by mburtoni on May 3, 2009 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

With all of the damn switching around this week I can barely muster up the energy to give a shit.

by DSmith on May 3, 2009 10:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We won’t anything interesting from Rashad or Machida that is supposed to hold this event up, UFC 98 is going to do horrible… I feel bad for Rashad, it can’t be easy trying to trashtalk with a wall to hype the fight!

by RoB on May 3, 2009 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

won’t hear… I hate when i miss something… would be so nice if i could only edit my posts after i throw them up

by RoB on May 3, 2009 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

there’s still 3 good fights imo

by McArthur on May 4, 2009 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don’t forget the Pat Barry fight Mac!!That guy is an amazing striker and i sure hope that we’ll see him on the PPV time!

by Alpha Male 360 on May 4, 2009 12:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Alpha. Great point. I love watching Barry fight. TOo bad I think Many of these fights are going to go to a decsiion, so I doubt that we will have time to air undercard fights…UNFORTUNATELY!!!

I doubt Machida vs. Rashad will end early. We all know Sherk fights go top a decision. Hughes vs. Serra wont end in the 1st round.

The curse of Matt hughes! Throw Matt Hughes on a card, and watch everyone get injured!

by john on May 4, 2009 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ya i really want to see houston do well. he always brings it!

by child on May 3, 2009 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol, we all knew he could punch, he wouldn’t have gotten hurt working on his ground game!

by kevin on May 3, 2009 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

and he didn’t..

by RoB on May 3, 2009 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What rob said. The win would have helped Gusmao’s profile to a possible fight against Red schafer on a Fight Night or TUF finale.

by NameNotRequired on May 3, 2009 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

wow terminator is definately looking better than this card now. i have to say out of this whole card only three fights are good. machida-rashad, serra-hughes, and to see a good pat barry ass whooping. other than that thers nothing intriguing. all the good slug fests are gone, okami the boring fighter but still close to a title shot is gone everything. ufc 98 is definately the card of injury

by Jared on May 3, 2009 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

me 2, and his entrance always brings good energy

by markg on May 4, 2009 1:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Does it matter? Alexander was going to lose anyway.

by Dugout on May 3, 2009 8:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yah but I still wanted to see it.

by Toad on May 3, 2009 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gusmao would have subbed him

by El Mexicutioner, formerly The Mexicutioner on May 4, 2009 12:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fu*k it! What’s with these injuries anyway?! can’t they like “train carefully”? i know that they wanna go all out, but daym their training practices sure are injury prone! Especially Okami! Fu*k that Jap, he always seems to be bailed out by injuries everytime he’s about to fight. Too bad for us fans…

by Syd[a.k.a. "The Negation"] on May 3, 2009 8:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ya it is too bad for us fans, but its hard to “Train Carefully” acidents always happen in the gym no matter if your Training for MMA or even weight lifting it happens.

by ricky on May 3, 2009 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jap is a derogatory word and I would appreciate if you didn’t use it.

by Brandon on May 3, 2009 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

thanks brandon. “jap” comment was unnecesary.

by JB on May 4, 2009 1:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey Brandon, I didn’t know that but am glad you pointed it out in a tasteful and respectful manner.

by DJ on May 4, 2009 6:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Redneck and Hick are also VERY derogatory terms, though thats perfectly okay to use since whites deserve to die ayway.

Am i right?

by lolop4345 on May 4, 2009 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

don’t forget cracker, and honkey, those are cool too.

by Blazy J on May 4, 2009 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

no room for rasism in the place dude

by ruan-fiy on May 4, 2009 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

this card is more cursed than ufc 85

by J.Mile on May 3, 2009 8:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ufc 85 is the reason rashad is the champ, remember he was supposed to fight james irvin?

by randy murders on May 3, 2009 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

very true

by J.Mile on May 4, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was looking forward to seeing Irvin and Alexander back in the Octagon.

by J on May 3, 2009 9:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

They should make this free on Spike. Of course, I always say that.

by FCfightfan on May 3, 2009 9:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This 85 all over again thank god im not going to this one,sucks houston is out really want to see him do well and get back on track

by Irish on May 3, 2009 9:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Let’s not forget that UFC 85 wasn’t a bad card despite all the injuries. If this ends up being like 85 in terms of the fight quality as well, I’ll be happy.

by Clint on May 3, 2009 9:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This is getting ridiculous.

by Dayzah on May 3, 2009 11:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

So his stay in the UFC is extended.

by Dennis on May 3, 2009 11:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

this sucks

by bryant on May 4, 2009 12:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i feel sorry for you guys dana should put another fight on for u guys

by bryant on May 4, 2009 12:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

it just seems like every once and a while a card comes along that is “cursed”. there’s a new name: UFC 98: Cursed.

by JB on May 4, 2009 1:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

How ’bout “UFC 98: Decision”, or “Evans vs Machida: Full Retreat”.

by Jeremyjackson on May 4, 2009 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kinda makes me wonder after seeing performances like Anderson Silva’s last 2 and the rash of injuries if there isn’t a little fighter rebellion going on against the Company.

We regards to Houston, he was kind of a flash in the pan. If he doesn’t connect early and the fight ends up on the ground, he is pathetically inept.

by sudnvictory on May 4, 2009 1:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I should have said, pathetically inept from on his back.

by sudnvictory on May 4, 2009 1:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

jardine and sakara rocked houston early he didnt land much, he just has to catch them period early or late, anyone who knows a double leg,pass guard,and arm triangle can beat this guy easily

by randy murders on May 4, 2009 2:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Remember when Houston’s legions of fans ( five or so ) came on here and said that he was gonna destroy Jardine? Probably not, but they did. Wonder where they are now?

FWIW – Corey Hill’s whole family came on here, also, to hype up there boy. Wonder where they are?

by Youtaped on May 4, 2009 5:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Unlucky houston

by MMA040 on May 4, 2009 9:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

They are prolly helping him in the bath so he can go in for a check up appointment.

Then when he gets back hes going too play some World of Warcraft.

by Dayzah on May 4, 2009 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Man not another injury, this card is a disaster. This is rivalling 85 for being cursed, all we’re missing now is someone not making weight and a positive drug test.