Due to a non-COVID related illness, No. 12 ranked lightweight Islam Makhachev has been removed from his main event bout this weekend with former UFC lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos. Stepping in for Makhachev will be The Irish Dragon, No. 7 ranked lightweight Paul Felder. Felder, winner of five of his last seven, is coming off a Fight of the Night battle with Dan Hooker in February.
Additionally, Brendan Allen, originally scheduled to compete last weekend, has been added to the card in a 195-pound catchweight bout against fellow middleweight standout Sean Strickland. Strickland, who looks to build on his current two-fight win streak, will compete in the quickest turnaround of his career after a dominant decision win over Jack Marshman on October 31.