John Moraga Out with Injury, Darren Uyenoyama Gets New UFC on Fox 9 Opponent

John Moraga has suffered an undisclosed injury that forced him off of the upcoming UFC on Fox 9 fight card slated for Dec. 14 in Sacramento, Calif.

UFC officials announced Moraga’s injury, and replacement, on Tuesday.

Moraga was slated to meet Darren Uyenoyama as part of the UFC on Fox 9 preliminary bouts. Octagon newcomer Alptekin Ozkilic is stepping in to take his place.

Uyenoyama (8-4) is coming off of a loss to UFC on Fox 9 main eventer Joseph Benavidez, who stopped him via TKO due to a brutal body kick and follow-up punches at UFC on Fox 7 in April.

Uyenoyama had made an immediate splash in the Octagon, defeating Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto in his promotional debut at the first UFC on Fox event in November 2011. He followed that with a victory over top British flyweight Phil Harris before losing to Benavidez.

Ozkilic (8-1) has refined his game by fighting primarily for regional promotions. The lone blemish on his record is a loss to current UFC fighter Chico Camus. He enters the fight with Uyenoyama on a three-fight winning streak, most recently defeating UFC veteran Antonio Banuelos at Legacy FC 20 earlier this year.

UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson puts his belt on the line against Benavidez in the UFC on Fox 9 main event.