UFC On Fox 2: Johnny Bedford Vs. Mitch Gagnon Scratched From Card

A bantamweight bout between Mitch Gagnon and Johnny Bedford is the latest casualty of UFC on Fox 2.

The undercard contest was scratched earlier this week after Gagnon, a native Canadian, was reportedly denied entrance into the United States.

As such, Lavar Johnson's heavyweight tilt against Joey Beltran has been promoted to the Fuel TV preliminaries. UFC officials confirmed the switch.

Notably, the 135-pound tilt was initially slated to feature Demetrious Johnson vs. Eddie Wineland, however Bedford was quickly tapped as a replacement once Johnson withdrew to complete in the UFC's inaugural flyweight tournament. A subsequent Wineland injury led to Gagnon's inclusion.

A 27-year-old prospect out of Ontario, Gagnon (8-1) entered the UFC fresh from a six-fight tear through regional promotions. All eight of the Team Shredder-product's wins have come by way of submission, with five arriving via guillotine choke. He last fought in October, where he finished David Harris with a guillotine two minutes into the first round.

Meanwhile, the match-up marked a quick turnaround for Bedford (18-9-1), a 28-year-old veteran who recently competed on The Ultimate Fighter 14. "Brutal" suffered a devastating knockout loss to eventual season winner John Dodson in the show's semi-finals, but rebounded with a destruction of Louis Gaudinot at The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale.

UFC on Fox 2 takes place January 28, 2012 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. A light heavyweight battle between Rashad Evans and Phil Davis headlines the network broadcast.

UFC on Fox 2 fight card:

Main card (Fox):
Light heavyweight: Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis
Middleweight: Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping
Middleweight: Demian Maia vs. Chris Weidman

Preliminary card (Fuel TV):
Lightweight: Evan Dunham vs. Nik Lentz
Heavyweight: John Olav Einemo vs. Mike Russow
Featherweight: George Roop vs. Cub Swanson
Featherweight: Charles Oliveira vs. Eric Wisely
Lightweight: Michael Johnson vs. Shane Roller
Heavyweight: Lavar Johnson vs. Joey Beltran

Preliminary card (Facebook):
Middleweight: Chris Camozzi vs. Dustin Jacoby