By FCF Staff
In the wake of the devastating earthquake that has hit Japan, the UFC has announced that the nation’s middleweight veteran Yoshihiro Akiyama, will not fight Nate Marquardt at UFC 128 as scheduled. Dan Miller (pictured), who was previously set to take on Nick Catone at the March 19th event, will take his place.
UFC President Dana White was quoted saying in the official announcement:
“Yoshihiro Akiyama will not be able to participate at UFC 128 due to the tragedy in Japan.”
"New Jersey native Dan Miller proves once again that he will fight anyone, anywhere, any time by agreeing to step up from the prelims to face Nate Marquardt," added White. "Marquardt has long been a top ten ranked middleweight and Miller jumped at the opportunity to face him.”
No news as to whether or not Catone will remain on the card was included.
Miller (13-4) heads into the bout having won back-to-back fights over Joe Doerksen and John Salter, after losing three in a row to Chael Sonnen, Demian Maia and Michael Bisping.
Marquardt (30-10-2) will be looking to recover from a unanimous decision loss to Yushin Okami in November, after stopping Rousimar Palhares at UFC Fight Night 22 two months earlier.
UFC 128 will be headlined by a light-heavyweight title fight between champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and challenger Jon “Bones” Jones. The event will be hosted by the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
