Charles Rosa has signed a new UFC contract, and it starts on Saturday.
With Gabriel Benitez out, Rosa (14-6 MMA, 5-6 UFC) will step in on three days’ notice to face TJ Brown (15-8 MMA, 1-2 UFC) in a lightweight bout at UFC on ESPN 32 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.
A person with knowledge of the matchup confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie on Wednesday but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Ariel Helwani was first to report the news.
After fighting out his UFC contract, Rosa has inked a new four-fight deal. The 35-year-old Bostonian has alternated wins and losses since joining the UFC roster in October 2014, most recently losing a unanimous decision to Damon Jackson last October at UFC Fight Night 194.
Brown, a Dana White’s Contender Series alum, picked up his first octagon win in May when he edged out Kai Kamaka at UFC on ESPN 23 in May. A training partner of featherweight contender Bryce Mitchell, Brown has finished eight of his past nine wins.
With the change, the UFC on ESPN 32 lineup now includes:
MAIN CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)
- Calvin Kattar vs. Giga Chikadze
- Katlyn Chookagian vs. Jennifer Maia
- Rogerio Bontorin vs. Brandon Royval
- Jake Collier vs. Chase Sherman
- TJ Brown vs. Charles Rosa
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)
- Bill Algeo vs. Joanderson Brito
- Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Court McGee
- Viacheslav Borshchev vs. Dakota Bush
- Saidyokub Kakhramonov vs. Brian Kelleher
- Vanessa Demopoulos vs. Silvana Gomez Juarez
- Joseph Holmes vs. Jamie Pickett
