The UFC managed to find Kelvin Gastelum a replacement opponent for UFC 273, but it required some shifts to the overall fight card.
After Nassourdine Imavov was forced out the April 9 event due to visa issues, the promotion has elevated Dricus Du Plessis into a middleweight bout with Gastelum (16-8 MMA, 11-8 UFC)
Du Plessis (16-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) was already scheduled to compete on the card against Anthony Hernandez, but he was removed from that matchup and elevated into a more high profile bout with “The Ultimate Fighter 17” winner Gastelum, who is currently 1-5 in his past six bouts. Du Plessis is unbeaten in his young UFC career, meanwhile, and has finished his opponent in all of his victories.
MMA Junkie verified the changes with multiple people close to the situation, who wished to remain anonymous because the UFC has yet to make an official announcement.
UFC 273 takes place at VyStar Veteran’s Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.
Although Hernandez (8-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) had his opponent taken away, he will still get the chance to compete at UFC 273. Promotional newcomer Josh Fremd (9-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will make his debut on short notice to round out what’s currently a 15-fight lineup.
The latest UFC 273 lineup now includes:
- Alexander Volkanovski vs. Chan Sung Jung – for featherweight title
- Aljamain Sterling vs. Petr Yan – for bantamweight title
- Gilbert Burns vs. Khamzat Chimaev
- Mackenzie Dern vs. Tecia Torres
- Irene Aldana vs. Aspen Ladd
- Ian Garry vs. Darian Weeks
- Dricus Du Plessis vs. Kelvin Gastelum
- Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Marcin Tybura
- Ilir Latifi vs. Aleksei Oleinik
- Mickey Gall vs. Mike Malott
- Pat Sabatini vs. Gavin Tucker
- Julio Arce vs. Daniel Santos
- Mark Madsen vs. Vinc Pichel
- Kay Hansen vs. Piera Rodriguez
- Josh Fremd vs. Anthony Hernandez
