Matt Mitrione has agreed to replace Shane Carwin in a heavyweight bout against Roy Nelson next month, sources confirmed to ESPN on Thursday. The fight will headline "The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale" in Las Vegas.
Carwin withdrew from the bout earlier in the week citing a knee injury.
The TUF 16 Finale takes place on Dec. 15 at Vegas' Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
Nelson (17-7) coached opposite Carwin on the latest installment of the UFC reality series -- a show he won as a contestant in 2009. The Las Vegas native is coming off a 51-second knockout over Dave Herman at UFC 146 in May.
Mitrione (5-1) had been scheduled to fight Phil de Fries at UFC 155 on Dec. 29. The 34-year-old hasn't fought since dropping a unanimous decision to Cheick Kongo in October 2011. No replacement for his bout against de Fries has been announced.
Nelson and Mitrione should be familiar with each other, as they were teammates under former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans during the tenth season of TUF.
