Lima replaces Zapata in UFC Philippine card

UFC (file photo)
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--China's Li Jingliang may be in for a tougher grind come UFC Fight Night Manila on May 16 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The MMA promotion announced on Thursday that Li's supposed opponent, Roger Zapata, will be sidelined for a undisclosed period of time due to an injury.

However, substituting for Zapata is Dhiego Lima, and he sure will give the Chinese a more difficult way to win.

The Atlanta-based Brazilian won 11 of his 14 MMA fights with eight coming by stoppages, five by submissions and the others by knockout.

Lima is a familiar person to main event protagonist Frankie Edgar as Lima got mentored by Edgar himself during the 19th season of "The Ultimate Fighter" like Zapata, who Lima defeated in the season semifinals.

After spending some time at the middleweights during TUF, Lima returned to the welterweights and split his last two fights.