On Tuesday news broke that Brazilian fighter Alexandre Ferreira had withdrawn from his upcoming UFC on Versus 3 (aka UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann) bout with Rousimar Palhares. Ferreira backed out of the fight due to the flooding in Brazil and it’s effects on his close friends and family.
Today Heavy.com is reporting that Dave Branch (8-1) has agreed to step in as a replacement for Ferreira confirming the news with a source close to the fight.
Branch is 2-1 in the UFC since making his debut at UFC 116 in July against Gerald Harris who used a body slam on Branch to knock him out in the third round. It was the first loss of Branch’s career and he quickly bounced back by earning unanimous decision wins over Tomasz Drwal at UFN 22 and Rich Attonito at the “TUF 12 Finale” in December.
Palhares meanwhile is 4-2 and enters the fight on a loss, having suffered a first round TKO defeat to Nate Marquardt at the same UFN 22 event. The loss ended a three fight win streak against Tomasz Drwal at UFC 111, a win that saw him suspended for 90 days for failing to let a submission go, he submitted Lucio Linhares at UFC 107, and earned a unanimous decision over Jeremy Horn at UFC 93.
UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann will take place on March 3rd at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky.