Brendan Allen will get yet another switch in opponent.
Roman Dolidze has withdrawn from UFC on ESPN 31 and Chris Curtis (27-8 MMA, 1-0 UFC) will step in on short notice to face Allen (17-4 MMA, 5-1 UFC) at UFC on ESPN 31 on Dec. 4.
Both fighters confirmed the booking on social media Monday following an initial report from MMA DNA.
Making a less than one month turnaround is Curtis, who came up big as an underdog in his promotional debut when he knocked out highly touted Phil Hawes at UFC 268 in November. His fight against Allen will mark the 34-year-old’s sixth fight in 2021.
Winner of nine of his past 10, former LFA champion Allen will look to make it three straight. After submitting Karl Roberson in the first round at UFC 261, Allen bounced Punahele Soriano out of the ranks of the unbeaten at UFC on ESPN 27 in July.
The latest UFC on ESPN 31 lineup now includes:
- Rob Font vs. Jose Aldo
- Jimmy Crute vs. Jamahal Hill
- Jake Matthews vs. Jeremiah Wells
- Chris Gruetzemacher vs. Claudio Puelles
- Rafael Fiziev vs. Brad Riddell
- Cheyanne Vlismas vs. Mallory Martin
- Brendan Allen vs. Chris Curtis
- Bryan Barberena vs. Matt Brown
- Zhalgas Zhumagulov vs. Manel Kape
- Vince Morales vs. Louis Smolka
- Clay Guida vs. Leonardo Santos
- Mickey Gall vs. Alex Morono
- Maki Pitolo vs. Dusko Todorovic
