The UFC is trying to get Demian Maia a new opponent for TUF: Brazil 3 Finale card.
Mike Pierce, who was scheduled to meet the Brazilian welterweight in Maia’s hometown of Sao Paulo, is out of the bout with a broken hand, sources close to the situation confirmed to MMAFighting.com. MMA Junkie first reported the news.
There is no word yet on who will replace Pierce on the card.
Pierce (17-6) had his four-fight win streak snapped in a 31-second submission loss to Rousimar Palhares last October and hasn’t fought since. On the same night, Maia (18-6) suffered a split decision loss to Jake Shields. Maia returned to the Octagon four months later to take on Rory MacDonald, but again left the cage with a decision loss.
While the promotion looks for a name to replace Pierce, two new bouts were added to the card. Former RFA champions Pedro Munhoz and Brian Ortega were added to the TUF: Brazil 3 Finale event against Wilson Reis and Diego Brandao, respectively. Combate first reported the news.
Munhoz (10-1) looks to get back to the win column after suffering his first professional loss in his Octagon debut against top-ranked bantamweight Raphael Assuncao at UFC 170, while Reis (17-5) dropped to 1-1 under the UFC banner with a close split decision loss to Iuri Alcantara in Brazil.
Unbeaten in MMA, Ortega (8-0) won the vacant RFA featherweight title in a five-round fight with Keoni Koch in January. In his previous seven bouts, the Black House fighter scored four submission victories. Brandao (), who was scheduled to meet Will Chope at UFN 38, looks to get back on track after a first-round loss to Dustin Poirier.
TUF: Brazil 3 Finale card takes place at the Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on May 31. Wanderlei Silva vs. Chael Sonnen, the original main event, was moved to UFC 175’s co-main event, and Junior dos Santos vs. Stipe Miocic will now headline the card.