Bedlam at Bitetti: Jeff Monson and Paulo Filho removed from Feb. 25 card (Updated)

Seems like the UFC isn't the only promotion to be snake-bitten on the heels of a major event.

Somebody on the Bitetti roster must have gone all Bobby Brady and unearthed an ancient Tiki when they got to Brazil, because the bad luck continues to befall the Feb. 25 fight card just hours before showtime.

Cocky and stocky submission specialist Jeff Monson has been scratched from the Bitetti Combat 6 event after encountering some issues in the U.S. and was unable to make the flight to Brazil. Fortunately event organizers have a deep pool of alternates, as Joaquim "Mamute" Ferreira has agreed to step in and face Glover Teixeira.

Also missing in action is Paulo Filho, who Tatame.com reports had "flight trouble" and could not make the scheduled weigh-in time. This comes just days after "Ely" backed out of the event -- only to rejoin it when original opponent Yuki Sasaki refused to fight Filho's replacement Thales Leites.

The troubled Brazilian eventually agreed to return, pitting Leites against Rico Washington in the main event, but now word comes out of PVT that Filho is off the card for good and Sasaki has opted not to fight an alternate.

Adding insult to injury (or insult AND injury in this case), Fabio Maldonado suffered a late hand injury and will not be able to compete against Guto Inocente. No word on a replacement at this time.

Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for Bitetti Combat 6 results and quick recap immediately following the event.