Originally Posted by MMAJunkie

Emerson (not Stephens) vs. Etim booked for UFC 84


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British fighter Terry Etim (10-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) will meet lightweight Rob Emerson (7-6 MMA, 1-0 UFC) -- not Jeremy Stephens -- at a UFC 84 event that takes place May 24 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The bout was today added to UFC.com's Events page.

As MMAjunkie first reported, Etim was originally slated to face up-and-comer Stephens. However, we've since been told that Stephens was pulled from the bout to deal with a "minor legal situation," according to a source close to the fighter.

Stephens remains with the UFC and is expected to be added to a fight card this summer.

Etim will return to the octagon for the first time since a unanimous-decision loss to Gleison Tibau at this past September's UFC 75 event in London.

Prior to the loss -- the first of Etim's career -- the 22-year-old Brit made his UFC debut with a stunning comeback over Matt Grice at UFC 70. After getting beaten around for much of the first round, Etim reversed his position and locked in a fight-ending guillotine choke. He earned a $30,000 "Submission of the Night" bonus for the performance.

After dealing with legal problems of his own, Emerson appeared on "The Ultimate Fighter 5," and he met Gray Maynard at the show's live finale. The fight was ruled a co-contest when Emerson was slammed to the mat and injured -- while Maynard appeared temporarily to knock himself unconscious.

Emerson returned at UFC 81 in February and scored a split-decision victory over Keita Nakamura.

The Etim-Emerson fight will air on the un-televised preliminary card of "UFC 84: Ill Will," which is set for pay-per-view. UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn meets Sean Sherk in the night's main event.