Mauricio Rua has a new opponent for next Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 22 co-main event.
Former UFC light heavyweight champion “Shogun” Rua (26-11 MMA, 10-9 UFC) will now face Scotland’s Paul Craig (12-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC), after the Brazilian’s original opponent, Sam Alvey, was forced to withdraw due to injury. The UFC announced the new booking Tuesday.
UFC on ESPN+ 22 takes place Saturday Nov. 16 at Ginásio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo. The main card and prelims stream on ESPN+.
The 37-year-old Rua has won four of his past five fights. After a brutal knockout loss to Anthony Smith in July 2018 snapped a three-fight winning streak, “Shogun” turned back the clock when he finished Tyson Pedro at UFC Fight Night 142 in December 2018.
With the change, the UFC on ESPN+ 22 lineup now includes:
MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)
- Jan Blachowicz vs. Ronaldo Souza
- Paul Craig vs. Mauricio Rua
- Jared Gordon vs. Charles Oliveira
- James Krause vs. Sergio Moraes
- Markus Perez vs. Wellington Turman
- Antonio Arroyo vs. Andre Muniz
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 5 p.m. ET)
- Eduardo Garagorri vs. Ricardo Ramos
- Bobby Green vs. Francisco Trinaldo
- Warlley Alves vs. Randy Brown
- Renan Barao vs. Douglas de Andrade
- Priscila Cachoeira vs. Ariane Lipski
- Tracy Cortez vs. Vanessa Melo
