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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
One UFC veteran out, another one in at Bellator 25.
After visa issues forced Yoshiyuki Yoshida out of a scheduled bout with Dan Hornbuckle during Bellator's third season, multiple published reports peg Brad Blackburn as the replacement for that fight.
Blackburn was released from the UFC after his second straight loss in April, to DaMarques Johnson at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi. He had been ahead in the fight into the third round, but Johnson made an impressive comeback and finished him in the final frame by TKO.
Hornbuckle was defeated by Ben Askren in the Bellator season two welterweight tournament finals in June, snapping a six fight win streak.
Bellator 25 will take place from the Chicago Theater on August 19.
Penick's Analysis: This is a really good replacement for Yoshida. Blackburn came up short against Johnson and Amir Sadollah, but he's definitely a very solid fighter and will make for a good match up against Hornbuckle. Hornbuckle couldn't find a way to get off his back against Ben Askren, but he may still be the favorite here in this fight as he's been very good up until that tournament finals bout.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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