The UFC’s first series of “Fight Island” events has hit a few snags, but the promotion is finding ways to keep as many scheduled bouts intact as possible.
On Friday, officials announced several replacement fighters for the UFC’s upcoming July shows, including previously reported bout changes, due to a variety of reasons.
The July 15 show headlined by Calvin Kattar and Dan Ige will see undefeated Swedish middleweight Khamzat Chimaev (6-0) face John Phillips (22-9, 1 NC). Chimaev replaces Dusko Todorovic, who tested positive for COVID-19 prior to traveling to Abu Dhabi.
Chimaev is off to a fast start to begin his pro career, having won his first six fights by knockout or submission.
In his most recent outing, Phillips scored his first UFC win in four tries with a 17-second KO of Alen Amedovski.
Also for July 15, a light heavyweight bout between Jorge Gonzalez (16-4) and Kenneth Bergh (8-0) has been added. The two UFC newcomers were previously scheduled to fight in November 2018 at Golden Boy MMA: Liddell vs. Ortiz 3, but that bout was cancelled.
On July 18, a flyweight bout between Tagir Ulanbekov and Oleksandr Doskalchuk has now become a flyweight bout between Malcolm Gordon (12-3) and Amir Albazi (12-1).
Ulanbekov withdrew from his scheduled bout after the death of head coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. Stepping in for him was Gordon, but then Doskalchuk withdrew due to medical issues. Doskalchuk was replaced by Albazi.
Lastly, another short-notice replacement was announced for the July 25 card. Niklas Stolze (12-3) is stepping in for Shavkat Rakhmonov (injury) to fight Ramazan Emeev (18-4) in a welterweight bout.
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