UFC 283 is down a middleweight.
Tuesday, [autotag]Gregory Rodrigues[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 4-1 UFC) revealed [autotag]Brad Tavares[/autotag] (19-7 MMA, 14-7 UFC) has withdrawn from their scheduled Jan. 21 meeting due to what is thought to be an injury.
“He’s out,” Rodrigues said in an interview with SuperBook Sports. “UFC started working to find someone to fight me in Brazil. I hope they find somebody. I was so prepared. I was so excited for my fight against Brad, to get a guy with his experience. But that’s not going to happen, not on this show. One thing I know is I’m ready. I’m so prepared. Anyone can come and ‘Robocop’ will be ready. I’ll put a show on.”
An additional person with knowledge of the change confirmed it Tuesday to MMA Junkie but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. The promotion still seeks a replacement to take the bout scheduled for Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the person added.
BREAKING — Brad Tavares is OUT for his match up with Gregory “Robocop” Rodrigues in UFC 283 in Brazil.
“Anyone can come in and robocop will be ready and I will put a show on” @gregory_mma @rkruck pic.twitter.com/ZrrjtosOhN
— SuperBook Sports (@SuperBookSports) January 10, 2023
Rodrigues, 30, won six of his most recent seven with the only defeat in the stretch a split decision loss to Armen Petrosyan in February. Should he remain on UFC 283, Rodrigues enters the bout on a two-fight winning streak that includes knockout victories against Chidi Njokuani and Julian Marquez.
With the change, the UFC 283 lineup now includes:
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
- Glover Teixeira vs. Jamahal Hill – for vacant light heavyweight title
- Champ Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno – for flyweight title
- Gilbert Burns vs. Neil Magny
- Jessica Andrade vs. Lauren Murphy
- Ihor Potieria vs. Mauricio Rua
PRELIMINARY CARD (ABC, 8 p.m. ET)
- Paul Craig vs. Johnny Walker
- Gregory Rodrigues vs. TBA
- Melquizael Costa vs. Thiago Moises
- Gabriel Bonfim vs. Mounir Lazzez
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)
- Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Jailton Almeida
- Ismael Bonfim vs. Terrance McKinney
- Luan Luiz Lacerda vs. Cody Stamann
- Warlley Alves vs. Nicolas Dalby
- Zarah Fairn vs. Josiane Nunes
- Daniel Marcos vs. Saimon Oliveira
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