InTheGuard.TV is reporting that UFC middleweight Rousimar "Toquinho" Palhares has drawn a new opponent for the TUF 10 Finale in December. Toquinho was originally slated to take on Alessio Sakara, but the Italian will apparently have to drop out of the bout due to "documentation" issues, paving the way for the UFC to bring in the ultra-agressive and BJJ black-belt, Lucio Linhares as a new signing and replacement for Sakara:
Rousimar Palhares, the "Toquinho", has a new adversary. Alleging problems with documentation, Alessio Sakara was substituted by Lucio Linhares (following a source close to the athlete). Lucio is a Jiu-Jitsu black belt of the Alliance Team and has made his mark in M-1, where he conquested a sequence of five consecutive victories. Rousimar Palhares is completely recovered from his surgery and is training hard at Brazilian Top Team in Lagoa, Rio de Janeiro - Brazil.
Linhares (13-4) will be a legitimate test for the submission-savvy Palhares, with an excellent ground game of his own, and solid striking skills in addition. A veteran of the M-1 Challenge series, Linhares is on a five-fight winning streak, with all five wins coming via first-round stoppage (2 KOs, 3 submissions). Most recently, Linhares choked out Mikhail Zayats at M-1's "Breakthrough" event in August, while he also holds notable victories over Karl Amoussou and Sean Salmon.
Current rumored TUF 10 Finale card:
Matt Hamill vs. Jon Jones
Heavyweight Finalist 1 vs. Heavyweight Finalist 2
Frankie Edgar vs. Kurt Pellegrino
Rousimar Palhares vs. Lucio Linhares
Dennis Hallman vs. John Howard
Mark Bocek vs. Matt Veach
Kimbo Slice vs. TBA
