The injury bug has forced a late change to the UFC Fight Night 36 card in Jaragua do Sul, Brazil.
Longtime UFC veteran Thiago Tavares, who was expected to make his featherweight debut against Zubair Tuhugov, is out with a rib fracture, and the UFC has signed undefeated prospect Douglas Silva as a replacement for the Feb. 15 card. Combate first reported the news.
Silva (22-0, 1 no-contest), who is one of the top 15 Brazilian prospects to watch for in 2014, enters the bout riding a 21-fight win streak with 17 knockout finishes. He was expected to fight for the Jungle Fight bantamweight title next, but leaves the promotion to sign with the UFC and compete in a 145-pound match-up.
The 22-year-old Tuhogov makes his UFC debut riding a six-fight win streak, the longest of his 3-year MMA career. The Russian fighter has a 15-3 record with six stoppage victories.
UFC Fight Night 36 is headlined by a middleweight clash between Lyoto Machida and Gegard Mousasi, and Ronaldo Souza takes on Francis Carmont in the co-main event.