Efrain Escudero's recent MRI showed no serious injuries from his UFC Fight Night 20 submission loss to Evan Dunham, and bout agreements will now be distributed for his UFC 114 matchup with Dan Lauzon.
A source close to the fighter today confirmed the news with MMAjunkie.com (
www.mmajunkie.com). UFC 114 takes place May 29 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, and the night's main card airs on pay-per-view.
Soon after Lauzon took to Facebook earlier this month and announced he will return at UFC 114, the Boston Herald reported that UFC officials were targeting Escudero vs. Lauzon for the Memorial Day weekend card. However, as MMAjunkie.com reported, Escudero first needed to undergo the MRI to determine if he'd even be available for the card.
Now cleared, Escudero is expected to sign a bout agreement in the next week. Additionally, once returning from an upcoming UFC public-relations trip to Mexico, he'll start his fight camp for the upcoming bout.
Escudero (12-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) winner, of the "The Ultimate Fighter 8," suffered his first career loss when Dunham submitted him last month. Escudero, who won the first round of the Jan. 11 fight, initially refused to tap from a rear-naked choke but finally relented when Dunham secured an armbar submission.
Escudero, who entered "TUF 8" with a 10-0 record, scored a unanimous decision win over Phillipe Nover to win the reality show, and he then showed off his quickly improving stand-up game in a TKO win over Cole Miller. Prior to that victory, the 24-year-old had posted nine submission victories (and two decision wins) in his 11 pro victories. He now looks to rebound from his first career loss.
Lauzon (12-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC), meanwhile, looks for his first win in the UFC at UFC 114. Lauzon's first UFC loss came to Spencer Fisher in 2006 when "The Upgrade" was just 18 years old and set a record as the youngest fighter ever to compete in the UFC. After posting an eight-fight win streak outside the promotion, the 21-year-old earned an invitation back to the UFC in 2009 and dropped a submission loss to Miller.
For the latest news on UFC 114, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.
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