Mark Muñoz returns to action at UFC 184

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino-American fighter Mark Muñoz will make his much-awaited return to the Octagon as he is booked to compete at the UFC 184 pay-per-view event on February 28, 2015 (March 1 in PH).

Muñoz (13-5) was last seen in action last May 31 (June 1 in PH) in the main event of UFC Fight Night 41, where he was forced to submit for the very first time in his prizefighting career by Gegard Mousasi with a first-round rear-naked choke.

In addition, it was later revealed that the 36-year-old “Filipino Wrecking Machine” tore his medial collateral ligament (MCL) and strained his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during his meeting with Mousasi.

“It was a tough loss. But I think it doesn’t matter how many times you fall, but it’s about how many times you pick yourself back up after a loss or a failure,” Muñoz said after the fight.

(RELATED: UFC fighter Mark Munoz is a fundraising ‘Machine’ for Yolanda victims)

After emerging as a potential 185-pound title contender with seven triumphs in his first nine UFC appearances, Muñoz has dropped three of his last four bouts, yielding to now-middleweight champion Chris Weidman, former light heavyweight king Lyoto Machida and Mousasi.

Despite having a 1-3 record in four matches and suffering a knee injury in his most recent outing, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization renewed Muñoz’s contract and made a four-fight pact with him this past June.

It was announced on Friday morning, December 12 (PH Time) that Muñoz will be facing Caio Magalhaes for his comeback assignment, but according to a report, the 26-year-old Brazilian pulled out of the three-round middleweight tussle.

“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to fight. I had a teeth pulled before my last fight and had an infection. After my last fight, I had another teeth pulled and it’s swollen, so I will have to undergo surgery next week to fix it. And I will probably lose bone around my teeth,” Magalhaes told MMAFighting.com. 

Muñoz’s manager Morgan Smith stressed that the UFC is now looking for an opponent and added the organization will publicly reveal the replacement in the days to come.

UFC 184, which takes place at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, is headlined by a middleweight championship clash between Weidman and Vitor Belfort.

In the co-featured attraction, Ronda Rousey is set to defend the UFC women’s bantamweight belt against Cat Zingano. – Rappler.com