David Branch was far from thrilled when he discovered he was without an opponent after scheduled opponent Yoel Romero accepted a UFC interim title fight against Luke Rockhold — especially because he found out in the wee hours of the morning when he got up to use the washroom.
UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker pulled out of his first title defense against Rockhold, planned for Perth’s UFC 221 in February, due to multiple injuries. Taking the titleholder’s place was Romero, who was booked to face former WSOF champ Branch at UFC on FOX 28 two weeks later in Orlando.