With Sam Hughes out, Loopy Godinez welcomes newcomer Silvana Gomez Juarez at UFC Vegas 39

Loopy Godinez will still compete this Saturday in Las Vegas, but she’ll now face a promotional newcomer.

Sources close to the situation confirmed to MMA Fighting that Godinez, who was originally scheduled to face Sam Hughes, will now fight Silvana Gomez Juarez at UFC Vegas 39, which takes place at the APEX. ESPN Deportes was first to report the switch.

Hughes is out of the fight after her coach tested positive for COVID-19.

Juarez was initially scheduled to compete on Dana White’s Contender Series next Tuesday against Maria Silva, but she gets her opportunity to compete inside the octagon instead. “La Malvada” has won three straight, including back-to-back TKO finishes. Juarez has competed against UFC veterans in the past, including Ariane Lipski, Poliana Botelho, and Vanessa Melo.

Godinez looks to pick up her first UFC victory after dropping a controversial split decision to Jessica Penne in her promotional debut at April’s UFC Vegas 24 event. Prior to signing with the UFC, Godinez captured the LFA strawweight title with a majority decision win over Vanessa Demopoulos at LFA 94 in October 2020.

UFC Vegas 39 will be headlined by a pivotal 115-pound matchup between Mackenzie Dern and Marina Rodriguez.