The two lightweight fighters have been promoted to fight in the pay-per-view main card of Saturday’s UFC event, after a tooth infection sustained by John Lineker forced the Brazilian to withdraw from his pivotal bantamweight contest with Jimmie Rivera, thus canceling the bout.
The decision to move Hooker vs. Diakiese from the FOX Sports 1 prelims to the main card was announced on Wednesday night by the promotion. Hooker and Diakiese will fight in the third bout of the pay-per-view main card.
UFC 219 is set to go down on Saturday, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.