It looks as if "Christmas" will be coming to the televised card of UFC 106 as Jacob Volkmann (9-0) and Paulo Thiago (11-1) have been bumped up a slot to replace the now defunct Karo Parisyan vs. Dustin Hazelett bout at "Ortiz vs. Griffin 2" inside the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday night (Nov. 21).
Parisyan apparently couldn't take "The Heat," so UFC President told the talented-but-troubled Judo star to get his ass out of the kitchen -- permanently -- after Karo left Dustin Hazelett high and dry for the upcoming card.
The fact that this wasn't the first time Parisyan has backed out of a fight, coupled with the litany of recent fighter injuries and illnesses, likely sent White into a rage, prompting him to issue the Armenian a lifetime ban from the promotion.
One door closes, another door opens.
Volkmann was last seen at Bellator Fighting Championships back in May, submitting Kevin Knabjian via brabo choke in the first round of the promotion's sixth televised event.
In addition to Bellator, "Christmas" stayed busy by competing six times in 2008, including stints under the Max Fights and Xtreme Fighting Organization (XFO) banners.
Now Volkmann can thank Thiago Alves for this new opportunity, as "The Pitbull" got yanked from his fight with Paulo Thiago to rematch Jon Fitch -- who was stranded after Ricardo Almeida was injured and forced to withdraw from the event.
That didn't work out for Fitch either, but that's a different story.
The Constrictor Team product stunned the division with a TKO stoppage over Josh Koscheck at UFC 95: "Sanchez vs. Stevenson" in his Octagon debut last January. Fitch, friend and training partner of "Kos," was looking for revenge at UFC 100, where he handed Thiago the first defeat of his career.
He now stands at an even 1-1 inside the Octagon.
For all the latest on the UFC 106 fight card click here.
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