Daniel Rodriguez steps in against Kevin Lee at UFC Vegas 35

Daniel Rodriguez is stepping up to the plate.

Rodriguez (15-2) has agreed to face Kevin Lee in a welterweight contest on less than three weeks’ notice at UFC Vegas 35. MMA Fighting confirmed the bout Wednesday following an initial report by ESPN.

Lee was originally booked against welterweight up-and-comer Sean Brady, who withdrew last week due to an infection in the tendons in his right foot.

Rodriguez is fresh off a first-round TKO of Preston Parsons in July. The 34-year-old is 5-1 over his octagon run, which includes a submission of Tim Means and decision over Mike Perry. His only loss over that span was a November 2020 setback against Nicolas Dalby.

Lee (18-6) is hoping to rebound after a tough recent stretch that saw him lose four of his last six UFC bouts and undergo multiple knee surgeries last year. Still just 28 years old, the one-time UFC interim title challenger has only competed at 170 pounds once in his octagon career, losing via fourth-round submission to Rafael dos Anjos in May 2019.

UFC Vegas 35 takes place on August 28 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nev. A bout between ranked featherweights Edson Barboza and Giga Chikadze headlines the event.