For two completely separate reasons, Abel Trujillo and Justin Scoggins will not be fighting next week at UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Mir in Brisbane, Australia.
We have a couple of last-minute changes to next week’s UFC Brisbane card to address, affecting three fights in total. Lightweight Abel Trujillo is out of his fight with Ross Pearson due to unspecified visa issues, which means that Chad Laprise has been pulled from his bout with Alan Patrick and will take Trujillo’s place. Meanwhile, flyweight prospect Justin Scoggins has suffered an injury, forcing him out of a matchup with Ben Nguyen. Based on the UFC’s official statement, while a replacement is being sought for Patrick, Nguyen appears to be off the card altogether.
Laprise (10-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) is coming off a 1st round knockout loss to Francisco Trinaldo at UFC Saskatoon in August, the first defeat of the TUF Nations winner’s professional career. TUF 9 winner Pearson (18-10, 1 NC MMA; 10-7, 1 NC UFC) also suffered a loss to Trinaldo in his last outing, although it ended in a decision instead of a stoppage. The Brit has alternated losses and wins over his past 7 bouts, but does hold a recent win over prospect Paul Felder.
Pearson vs. Laprise will be the feature prelim bout on UFC Fight Pass.
UFC Fight Night 85 is headlined by a heavyweight clash between former champion Frank Mir and former interim title challenger Mark Hunt. The main card airs live on Fox Sports 1 on Saturday, March 19th, although time zone difference means the card is technically happening on Sunday, March 20th.