Daley-Hazelett Set for UFC 108

A featured welterweight bout between Dustin Hazelett and Paul Daley has been greenlit for UFC 108 on Jan. 2 in Las Vegas, Sherdog.com has learned from a source close to one of the fighters.

MMAWeekly.com first reported the replacement matchup on Wednesday.

Hazelett, who was left without an opponent two days before UFC 106 last month when Karo Parisyan withdrew from the event, will step in for Carlos Condit. Condit, a former WEC champion, suffered a “severe cut” to his hand, said his trainer Greg Jackson, and pulled out of the bout.

Daley, from Nottingham, England, turned heads in his promotional debut last September, as he ripped through top contender Martin Kampmann with vicious punches for a first-round technical knockout at UFC 103 in Dallas. Known for his crisp, powerful striking, the 26-year-old Daley was a standout for Britain’s Cage Rage promotion, and also appeared for EliteXC and Strikeforce.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Hazelett’s savvy submission game was highlighted in back-to-back Octagon victories over Josh Burkman (at “The Ultimate Fighter 7” Finale in June 2008) and Tamdan McCrory (at UFC 91 in November 2008). The 23-year-old Kentucky native was sidelined by an undisclosed injury and withdrew from a bout at UFC 96 last March.