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It didn’t take long for Evan Dunham to find a replacement opponent after Mairbek Taisumov was officially ruled out of UFC 223.
Replacing Taisumov (26-5 MMA, 6-1 UFC) at next month’s event will be “The Ultimate Fighter: Nations” finalist Olivier Aubin-Mercier (10-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC), according to a post on Dunham’s (18-6-1 MMA, 11-6-1 UFC) social media (via Twitter):
Thanks to @oliaubin for taking this fight. I will see you in the middle. #ufc223
— Evan Dunham (@evandunham155) March 9, 2018
UFC 223 takes place April 7 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Dunham vs. Aubin-Mercier airs on the FS1-televised prelims following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass and prior to the pay-per-view main card.
Taisumov’s inability to get a U.S. visa approved in time for UFC 223 was the reason for his withdraw. The left Dunham, who is unbeaten over his past five bouts in the lightweight division, without an opponent for the card.
Fortunately for him, Aubin-Mercier was in-shape and available. The Canadian was supposed to fight at UFC on FOX 27 in February, but his matchup against Gilbert Burns was scratched early in fight week when Burns reportedly checked in with UFC officials at nearly 30 pounds over weight.
It will be a honor to see you in the middle
— Olivier Aubin (@oliaubin) March 10, 2018
With the replacement, the UFC 223 card is now finalized with 13 bouts:
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
PRELIMINARY CARD (FS1, 8 p.m. ET)
PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass, 6 p.m. ET)
For more on UFC 223, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.
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