UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis has been forced out of his main event battle with Josh Thomson due an injury.

Pettis injured, Johnson vs. Benavidez to headline UFC on FOX 9

MMASucka.com reported earlier that UFC President Dana White had announced that Pettis was injured, but would still be fighting. Unfortunately that is not the case and with Pettis vs. Thomson being postponed, the UFC has moved the flyweight title fight rematch between Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez which was originally scheduled for the TUF 18 Finale to the UFC on FOX 9 main event.

“Mighty Mouse” Johnson (18-2-1) is the inaugural UFC flyweight champion for a reason. The AMC Pankration fighter is renowned for his blinding speed in the Octagon, darting in and out with flashes of strikes and takedowns. “Mighty Mouse” is coming off a successful title defense against John Moraga, notching his first finish since 2010 with an armbar submission. Will Johnson retain a second time against the surging Benavidez?

Benavidez (19-3) has been on a tear since his loss to “Mighty Mouse” in their initial clash for the UFC Flyweight Title. Going 3-0 since that loss, Benavidez has been one of the fighters at Team Alpha Male to benefit the most since the addition of Duane “Bang” Ludwig, notching finishes by strikes in his last pair of fights. With strong wrestling to go along with his sharpening striking, “Joe-B-Wan Kenobi” has improved visibly since the pair’s initial clash in 2012. Will those improvements be enough to defeat the UFC Flyweight Champion?

UFC on FOX 9 will go down from the Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, Calif. on December 14.