November 24, 2023 7:34 pm ET
Khalil Rountree lost his challenger and will no longer be completing at UFC on ESPN 52. A previous title opposition has actually stepped up as a replacement for a battle to take location a week later on.
Rountree (12-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) was set up to deal with Azamat Murzakanov at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas on Dec. 2. UFC CEO Dana White has actually revealed the unbeaten Murzakanov (13-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) has pneumonia and will no longer be able to contend.
All is not lost for Rountree though, as previous light heavyweight title opposition Anthony Smith has actually stepped up as a replacement. The brand-new match revealed by White in a video published to Instagram will now happen a week later on at UFC Fight Night 233 on Dec. 9 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Smith (37-18 MMA, 12-8 UFC) will contend for the 3rd time in 2023. In his last trip, “Lionheart” got a split choice win in a rematch versus Ryan Spann at UFC Fight Night 225. The outcome snapped a two-fight skid for the previous title opposition, marking Smith’s very first win because beating Spann by submission in their very first conference.
Rountree gets to make sure a battle camp does not go to lose by combating a week behind initially prepared. The battle will be Rountree’s second of 2023, following a knockout surface of Chris Daukaus at UFC on ESPN 51 in August.
With the modification, the present lineup on Dec. 9 consists of:
- Tune Yadong vs. Chris Guiterrez
- Anthony Smith vs. Khalil Rountree
- Andre Muniz vs. Junyong Park
- Nasrat Haqparast vs. Jamie Mullarkey
- Carlos Hernandez vs. Tatsuro Taira
- Su Mudaerji vs. Allan Nascimento
- Sung Hyun Park vs. Shannon Ross
- Kevin Jousset vs. Song Kenan
- Stephanie Egger vs. Luana Santos
- Talita Alencar vs. Rayanne dos Santos
Make certain to check out the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of blended martial arts.
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