UFC on Versus 3: Rafael Natal vs Alessio Sakara booked for March 3 with Maiquel Falcao injured

Bad news for all you slobberknocker fans out there.

Maiquel Falcao has reportedly suffered an injury and has been forced out of his fight against Alessio Sakara at UFC on Versus 3: "Sanchez vs Kampmann" on March 3 in Kentucky. Rafael Natal will step in as his replacement, according to MMAWeekly.com.

Natal just might be fighting for his job as he has fought twice under the Zuffa umbrella and has yet to come away with a victory.

The Renzo Gracie disciple opened his Octagon career with a decision loss to Rich Attonito before fighting to a rare majority draw against late replacement Jesse Bongfeldt on the undercard of UFC 124.

The Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist will attempt to avoid the unemployment line, along with some heavy hands, when he steps in the cage with "Legionarious."

Alessio Sakara is in the midst of trying to get back in the boss's good graces after he left them high and dry back at UFC 122 in November of last year (2010).

The Italian (apparently) had a run in with some bad tuna and pulled out of his scheduled co-main event fight against Jorge Rivera just hours before the event was set to take place.

He's assured his employers, not to mention the fans, that it won't happen again. Considering the fact that he had won three in a row before that fateful night in Germany, the consensus opinion is that he deserves a chance to redeem himself and continue his ascension up the 185-pound ladder.

The last submission specialist he squared off with took him into deep waters before Sakara won a split decision. Has he made the necessary improvements to avoid such a close call in this one?

UFC on Versus 3 is set for the KFC Yum! Center on March 3 in Louisville, Kentucky and will feature a main event of top welterweight contenders as Diego Sanchez will try to build off his impressive win over Paulo Thiago against "The Hitman" Martin Kampmann.

Stay tuned to MMAMania.com for any updates as they become available.