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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Welterweight prospect Ricardo Funch has been forced out of his UFC 111 bout with Matt Riddle according to a report from MMAJunkie.com. His reasoning for pulling out of the bout was not known at the time of the report.
Stepping into his spot is UFC newcomer Greg Soto, a 7-0 professional who is a training partner of UFC fighter Kurt Pellegrino. A Brazilian jiu jitsu brown belt out of Kurt Pellegrino's Mixed Martial Arts academy in New Jersey, Soto has picked up five submission victories in his seven fights.
Riddle is 3-1 in his professional career, all of his bouts have come in the Octagon. He debuted with the organization as a member of the seventh season of The Ultimate Fighter, and posted three straight decision victories before losing his first bout to Nick Osipczak at UFC 105.
UFC 111 takes place from the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, on March 27th on pay-per-view, headlined by a Welterweight Title bout between Georges St. Pierre and Dan Hardy.
Penick's Analysis: Soto is an exciting undefeated fighter coming in with some definite buzz behind him, and it should make for an entertaining debut against Riddle on this undercard. With seven of the fights already guaranteed to air, he'll have a great chance to get his debut on either the Spike or pay-per-view broadcast. This 111 event has been hit by a couple of injuries, but all in all it's the best top to bottom card the UFC has had in 2010.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
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