The injury bug continues to bite the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Former lightweight champion Sean Sherk has suffered an injury and will not fight on the Jan. 2 UFC 108 card, The Times learned Thursday from sources close to Sherk's camp.
Sherk reportedly was scheduled to fight Jim Miller, though the bout had not yet officially been announced by the organization.
Ironically, Sherk was replacing Tyson Griffin, who just last week was forced off the card with an injury of his own.
UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and features a main event of former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans vs. Thiago Silva, plus Paul Daley vs. Dustin Hazelett, Joe Lauzon vs. Sam Stout and Junior dos Santos vs. Gilbert Yvel.
It is not yet known if the loss of Sherk on the main card will mean the organization will look for a new opponent for Miller or if he will be scrapped from the card, as well.
This is the second time this year the former lightweight champ has been forced off a card due to injury. Sherk was to fight at UFC 104 in Los Angeles in October, but pulled out of the event with a shoulder injury.
Sherk last fought at UFC 98 in May, where he suffered a unanimous decision loss to rising contender Frankie Edgar. After that loss,
Sherk, who was a heavy favorite, reportedly ran from the MGM Grand and was picked up about a mile away near the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino -- still needing to return to complete his post-fight medical evaluation.
After defending his lightweight belt against Hermes Franca at UFC 73, Sherk was suspended for a year by the California State Athletic Commission after a positive steroid test. Sherk has his suspension reduced to six months after appealing, but the UFC stripped him of his title.
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