Matt Schnell has a new opponent in the works for UFC 262.
MMA Junkie learned that Alex Perez has been forced to withdraw from the card, and Rogerio Bontorin (16-3-1 MMA, 2-2 UFC) is expected to face Schnell (15-5 MMA, 5-3 UFC) in a 135-pound bout at the May 15 event at Toyota Center in Houston.
A person with knowledge of the booking told MMA Junkie of the plans but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Schnell is coming off a split-decision win over Tyson Nam at UFC on ESPN 20 in January. “The Ultimate Fighter 24” alum has won five of his past six, with his lone loss in the stretch coming to Alexandre Pantoja.
After securing a contract on Season 1 of “Dana White’s Contender Series Brazil” Bontorin scored back-to-back wins over Magomed Bibulatov and Raulian Paiva before dropping two straight to Ray Borg and, most recently, Kai Kara-France at UFC 259.
With the change, the UFC 262 lineup now includes:
- Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler – for vacant lightweight title
- Nate Diaz vs. Leon Edwards
- Beneil Dariush vs. Tony Ferguson
- Edson Barboza vs. Shane Burgos
- Jack Hermansson vs. Edmen Shahbazyan
- Mike Grundy vs. Lando Vannata
- Rafael Alves vs. Damir Ismagulov
- Andre Muniz vs. Ronaldo Souza
- Viviane Araujo vs. Katlyn Chookagian
- Rogerio Bontorin vs. Matt Schnell
- Andrea Lee vs. Antonina Shevchenko
- Joel Alvarez vs. Christos Giagos
- Jamie Pickett vs. Jordan Wright
- Kevin Aguilar vs. Tucker Lutz
- Priscila Cachoeira vs. Gina Mazany
