Eric Spicely out of UFC Vegas 5 bout opposite Markus Perez, Charlie Ontiveros steps in as replacement

The UFC Vegas 5 card has taken another hit.

Just hours after it was reported that Timur Valiev would be replaced by Vincent Cachero in for his featherweight bout against Jamall Emmers on Saturday at UFC APEX in Las Vegas, MMA Fighting confirmed with sources that Eric Spicely has also been removed from his middleweight bout opposite Markus Perez.

UFC newcomer Charlie Ontiveros (11-6) replaces Spicely and meets Perez in a 195-pound catchweight bout. Ontiveros, 29, has competed primarily at welterweight. He has won three of his last four fights, most recently defeating Washington Luiz by first-round KO at a Fury Fighting Championship show in Humble, Texas.

MMA Junkie was first to report the changes. The reason for Spicely’s withdrawal was not disclosed, though shortly after the news broke he issued a statement on social media indicating that it was related to his weight cut:

For Spicely, this is his fourth cancelled bout since his most recent fight at UFC Greenville in June of last year. An injury forced him out of an October meeting with Brendan Allen, a March 28 bout with Punahele Soriano was altered when Soriano withdrew, and then Spicely’s fight with replacement Roman Kopylov fell through when the entire March 28 card was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.

See the updated UFC Vegas 5 card below:

Main card (ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET)

Derek Brunson vs. Edmen Shahbazyan

Joanne Calderwood vs. Jennifer Maia

Vicente Luque vs. Randy Brown

Lando Vannata vs. Bobby Green

Kevin Holland vs. Trevin Giles

Prelims (ESPN/ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET)

Frankie Saenz vs. Jonathan Martinez

Ed Herman vs. Gerald Meerschaert

Nathan Maness vs. Johnny Munoz

Markus Perez vs. Charlie Ontiveros

Chris Gutierrez vs. Cody Durden

Jamall Emmers vs. Vincent Cachero