UFC 144 Fight Card: Leonard Garcia Scratched With Injury

UFC 144 is slated for February 26th, 2012 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

Jan 30, 2012 - The trickling of injuries has drained UFC 144 once again.

High-motor crowd favorite Leonard Garcia (15-8-1) has been scratched from the late-February fight card due to an injury sustained in training camp, according to reports from MMA Weekly.

UFC officials have yet to confirm the withdrawal or announce a new opponent for Chinese veteran Zhang Tiequan (15-2).

A perennial headliner of Zuffa's 'Fight Night' bonuses, Garcia hoped to rebound after dropping three of his previous four contests, including a pair of frenetic rematches with Nam Phan and Chan Sung Jung last year. Despite his reckless style, the 32-year-old owns four 'Fight of the Night' awards to his credit, and his 2010 battle with Jung was widely considered to be a leading candidate for 'Fight of the Year.'

Tiequan, meanwhile, will likely remain on the Japan card, albeit with a new adversary. Ominously known as "The Mongolian Wolf," the 33-year-old has thus far split his two UFC appearances, submitting Jason Reinhardt in 48 seconds before dropping a decision to Darren Elkins at UFC 136.

UFC 144 takes place February 26th, 2012 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Former WEC lightweight champion Ben Henderson challenges UFC lightweight king Frankie Edgar in the night's main event.

UFC 144 fight card:

Main card:
Lightweight Championship: Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson
Light Heavyweight: Quinton Jackson vs. Ryan Bader
Heavyweight: Mark Hunt vs. Cheick Kongo
Welterweight: Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields
Lightweight: Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon

Preliminary card:
Middleweight: Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch
Lightweight: Takanori Gomi vs. Eiji Mitsuoka
Featherweight: Hatsu Hioki vs. Bart Palaszewski
Bantamweight: Norifumi Yamamoto vs. Vaughan Lee
Middleweight: Riki Fukuda vs. Steve Cantwell
Bantamweight: Takeya Mizugaki vs. Chris Cariaso
Featherweight: Tiequan Zhang vs. TBA