Well that timing couldn't have been any worse.

Bellator standout lightweight Patricky "Pitbull" Freire has been removed from the season eight lightweight tournament less than two days before he was expected to compete in the season eight lightweight tournament against newcomer Guillaum DeLorenzi in what was expected to be the main event of Bellator 87 in Point Pleasant, Michigan.

The new main event will be a battle between fan-favorites Lloyd Woodard and David Rickels, which is also a quarterfinal bout in the tournament.

According to Jason Floyd of The MMA Report, "Pitbull" suffered a knee injury in his final sparring session and was forced to pull out of the tournament.

Taking his place will be tournament newcomer Saad Awad, who was originally expected to battle Jason Fischer in the lightweight tournament alternate bout on the preliminary card. Awad enters the Bellator season eight tourney on a four fight winning streak having stopped all four opponents.

Taking Awad's place on the preliminary card against Fischer will be Ultimate Fighter season 12 veteran Sevak Magakian, who is 11-1 in his last 12 fights including five straight victories.

There is no timetable on when "Pitbull" will be ready to return.