Top UFC lightweight Islam Makhachev will now fight Bobby Green on 10 days' notice after the Russian's original opponent withdrew due to injury.
In a pivotal matchup at 155-pounds, Makhachev was scheduled to fight No.3 ranked lightweight Beneil Dariush at a UFC event on February 26.
But ESPN reported on Wednesday that Dariush withdrew from the fight after suffering an ankle injury during training.
Green, who is unranked at 155-pounds, will fight Makhachev just two weeks after he outpointed Nasrat Haqparast on the UFC 271 undercard.
'King' picked up his second win on the bounce against Haqparast after knocking out Al Iaquinta at UFC 268 last November.
MMA veteran Green has fought for the UFC - they merged with Strikeforce in 2013 and is nearing 20 promotional appearances.
The 35-year-old is known for his exciting fighting style and has competed against the likes of Dustin Poirier and Edson Barboza during his current UFC stint.
Green has notoriously struggled to break into the upper echelon of the lightweight division in the UFC, but now has a short-notice chance to do so against Makhachev.
MMA reporter Brett Okamoto said he was at Dariush's gym when he suffered a "freak injury" after being taken down by his opponent.
"Feel very badly for Beneil Dariush though," he wrote on Twitter. "I was there when it happened yesterday. Freak injury, his toe caught in the mat during a takedown, during light sparring. No timeframe yet on recovery.
"And to clarify the first tweet, his toe caught in the mat ... which resulted in a pretty severe ankle injury. His foot was in an awkward position as his and his opponent's weight came down from the takedown."
The cancelled fight between Dariush and Makhachev would have likely produced the next lightweight title challenger after Charles Oliveira faces Justin Gaethje in May.
Who wins on February 26 - Islam Makhachev or Bobby Green? Let us know your prediction in the comments section below
Makhachev, who is on a nine-fight winning streak, was hoping to secure a win against a top-five ranked fighter in Dariush.
The Russian, who is a protege of now-retired UFC great Khabib Nurmagomedov, won three fights all by submission last year with his most recent coming against Dan Hooker.
And Makhachev thinks Oliveira will defend his belt against Gaethje to set up a title clash between him and the Brazilian later this year.
He told Red Corner MMA : "Charles Oliveira is champion now and he showed good skills [in] his last two fights. That's why I think the end of this year, I'm gonna beat him, in Abu Dhabi."
