An injury has resulted in change of plans for UFC on ESPN+ 20.
With Yan Xiaonan out of her scheduled fight against Ashley Yoder (7-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC) due to a back injury, Canadian strawweight Randa Markos (9-7-1 MMA, 5-6-1 UFC) has stepped in as a short-notice replacement.
Two people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the booking, but asked to remain anonymous because the UFC has yet to make an official announcement. Xiaonan’s injury was first reported by Combate.
UFC on ESPN+ 20 takes place Oct. 26 at Singapore Indoor Stadium. The event streams on ESPN+.
Yoder, 31, has turned her luck around after a rough start to her UFC tenure. “The Spider Monkey” lost her first three UFC contests after a brief stint in Invicta. Granted a fourth opportunity, Yoder made the most of it at UFC Fight Night 139 in November 2018 when she defeated Amanda Cooper by split decision.
In her most recent outing at UFC on ESPN+ 12 in June, picked up another decision victory – this time unanimously against Syuri Kondo.
On the heels of a unanimous decision loss to Claudia Gadelha at UFC 239 in July, Markos enters the fight with Yoder having gone 1-1-1 in her most recent three contests. “Quiet Storm” has alternated wins and losses for the entirety of her 12-fight UFC career, with the exception of her draw with Marina Rodriguez in September 2018.
With the change to the card, the UFC on ESPN+ 20 lineup now includes:
- Demian Maia vs. Ben Askren
- Michael Johnson vs. Stevie Ray
- Ciryl Gane vs. Don’Tale Mayes
- Sergei Pavlovich vs. Maurice Greene
- Frank Camacho vs. Beneil Dariush
- Ian Heinisch vs. Brad Tavares
- Alexandra Albu vs. Loma Lookboonmee
- Randa Markos vs. Ashley Yoder
- Julia Avila vs. Karol Rosa
