Khasan Magomedsharipov still has the same date for his Bellator debut, but with a different opponent.
Originally expected to fight Nekruz Mirkhojaev at Bellator 263, Magomedsharipov (5-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) now meets Jonathan Quieroz (3-4 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) in a featherweight fight on the July 31 undercard.
A promotion official recently informed MMA Junkie of the change. TASS was first to report the news Monday. The reason for Mirkhojaev’s withdrawal was not given.
Magomedsharipov, brother of UFC featherweight contender Zabit, signed with the promotion in February. He enters Bellator as an undefeated professional. In five pro fights, Magomedsharipov, 20, has earned four finishes, including three submissions and a knockout.
En route to Bellator, Magomedsharipov competed for Fight Nights Global and Gorilla Fighting Championship, among other promotions. He most recently competed at AMC Fight Nights Global 99 and beat Mikhail Tarkhanov by first-round TKO.
Meanwhile, Quieroz, 34, has not competed since a September 2019 unanimous decision loss to AJ Agazarm at Bellator 228.
Bellator 263 takes place Friday at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.
With the change, the Bellator 263 lineup now includes:
MAIN CARD (Showtime, 9 p.m. ET)
- Champion Patricio Freire vs. A.J. McKee – for the featherweight title
- Emmanuel Sanchez vs. Mads Burnell
- Manny Muro vs. Usman Nurmagomedov
- Islam Mamedov vs. Brent Primus
- Chris Gonzalez vs. Goiti Yamauchi
PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 7 p.m. ET)
- Ilara Joanne vs. Vanessa Porto
- Daniel Carey vs. Gadzhi Rabadanov
- Kiefer Crosbie vs. Georgi Karakanyan
- Brian Moore vs. Jordan Winski
- Khasan Magomedsharipov vs. Jonathan Quiroz
- Johnny Cisneros vs. Joshua Jones
