UFC
Dennis Siver has new opponent for UFC Fight Night 54 as Swedish governing body disallows Tony Lapilus bout
Sep 29, 2014 - 2:00:09 PM Dennis Siver has new opponent for UFC Fight Night 54 as Swedish governing body disallows Tony Lapilus bout

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Dennis Siver has yet another new opponent for Saturday's UFC Fight Night 53 event in Sweden.

According to a report from MMAJunkie.com, the Swedish Mixed Martial Arts Federation (SMMAF) refused to allow Tony Lapilus to step in as the UFC planned, bringing undefeated Charles Rosa into the fold.

Though both Lapilus and Rosa have similar records, Lapilus has competed under a rule set that disallows ground and pound, and his current winning streak has come against competition with a combined record of 3-7-1.

Here's the SMMAF's reasoning for declining to allow Lapilus to fight Siver, via SMMAF President Johan Halldin:

Regarding the request for replacement of contender to Mr. Dennis Siver at the UFC event on October 4th in Stockholm, Sweden

The Board of the Swedish Mixed Martial Arts Federation (SMMAF) has reviewed the request comprising two options for contender to Mr. Siver put forth by the UFC: the first option regarding Mr. Taylor Lapilus (France) and the second option regarding Mr. Charles Rosa (USA).

The Board has made the following ruling.

Mr. Taylor Lapilus
After having reviewed the information submitted as well as having viewed footage of Mr. Lapilus, the Board of SMMAF must regrettably declare that the request regarding Mr Lapilus as a contender to Mr. Siver has been denied. The grounds for the denial is the inexperience of the athlete in question as based on his age, his technical skill, his record and his overall short background in MMA. This gives reason to believe that he has limited, if any, sparring and competition experience outside of the official record. It is therefore our judgement that a full-contact, professional MMA match between Mr. Lapilus and Mr. Siver would be an uneven match-up to the point where we Mr. Lapilus’ safety can not be guaranteed.

Mr. Charles Rosa
The Board of SMMAF hereby declares that the request for Mr. Rose as contender to Mr. Siver has been approved, and the match is authorized for the event on October 4th in Stockholm, Sweden.

Saturday's UFC Fight Night 53 event airs live on UFC Fight Pass, headlined by the welterweight bout between Gunnar Nelson and Rick Story.

Penick's Analysis: That's the right move from the SMMAF. Siver's got tons and tons of experience, and Lapilus would have just been a body for him to get through. That's one of those types of fights the UFC shouldn't ever be putting on, but that they've been going to more and more as they stretch their roster thinner and thinner across so many events.