Dennis Siver Falls Off UFC on Fuel TV 7 in London; Cub Swanson Now Faces Dustin Poirier

The UFC returns to London for the first time in more than two years on Feb. 16 for UFC on Fuel TV 7, unfortunately, one of the premier featherweight bouts on the card has been blown apart.

Dennis Siver and Cub Swanson were scheduled to meet in a battle that would have propelled one of them, almost assuredly, into title contention.

Siver, however, has had to pull out of the fight. Stepping in to take his place is Dustin Poirier, UFC officials told MMAWeekly.com on Thursday.

“Dennis Siver has pulled out of his bout against Cub Swanson which was set to take place at UFC London,” read a statement from UFC officials in the U.K. “Swanson will now face Dustin ‘The Diamond’ Poirier on 16th February at Wembley Arena in what is set to be an impressive match-up.”

Poirier is a solid replacement for Siver. He had his own title hopes derailed last spring when Chan Sung Jung (aka The Korean Zombie) choked him out in the fourth round of their UFC on Fuel TV 3 headlining bout, but bounced back by submitting Jonathan Brookins at the recent TUF 16 Finale.

Defeating a fighter like Cub Swanson would go a long way towards putting Poirier back “in the mix” for a shot at the winner of the UFC 156 headliner between current featherweight champion Jose Aldo and challenger Frankie Edgar.

Having already knocked out George Roop, Ross Pearson, and Charles Oliveira in succession, adding a win over Poirier would be just as beneficial for Swanson, who is trying to make his case for a shot at the winner of Aldo vs. Edgar.

Interim UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barão puts his belt on the line against top 135-pound challenger Michael McDonald in the UFC on Fuel TV 7 main event on Feb. 16 in London.

Stay tuned to MMAWeekly.com for all the latest UFC on Fuel TV 7 news and fight coverage.