Mounir Lazzez books his second UFC Fight Island appearance as a short notice replacement.
2020 saw a number of fighters have impressive coming out parties on the UFC’s so-called Fight Island. Though he had just one appearance in the desert-side Octagon, Mounir Lazzez certainly made a statement.
In July the Tunisian welterweight, who got booked after a friend pushed a highlight reel under UFC President Dana White’s nose, put on an entertaining display of striking on route to besting former top prospect Abdul Razak Alhassan.
That moved ‘Sniper’’s overall record to 10-1. Most of his fights have come in the Brave CF and UAE Warriors promotions. His sole loss was a BCF title fight opposite Eldar Eldarov.
According to MMA Junkie Lazzez’s second UFC bout will be as a short notice replacement for Christian Aguilera, who has been forced out of his January 16 date with Warlley Alves for undisclosed reasons. Lazzez vs. Alves will reportedly take place on January 20.
Lazzez gets this fight after his previously booked bout with David Zawada fell through in October, after Zawada tested positive for COVID-19.
Alves (13-4) made his way to the UFC off of TUF Brazil: Season 3 back in 2014. After a stellar two-year period to start his UFC career, with finishes over Colby Covington and Nordine Taleb, the Brazilian lost back-to-back fights with Bryan Barberena and future champ Kamaru Usman.
Since losing to Usman in 2016 Alves has only fought five times (3-2 record). Last time out, in November 2019, he was submitted by Randy Brown at UFC on ESPN: Blachowicz vs. Jacare.
Aguilera has fought twice for the UFC since moving over from LFA. His debut was a stoppage win over Anthony Ivy in June. He followed that up with a submission loss to Sean Brady in August.
The UFC’s January 20 show is set to be headlined by Michael Chiesa vs. Neil Magny. Also on the card, Pedro Munhoz takes on Jimmie Rivera and Roxanne Modafferi fights Viviane Araujo.