Update: Saffiedine Replaces Filho at Dream 12

Paulo Filho has been pulled from his middleweight bout against Dong Sik Yoon at Dream 12 on Oct. 25 at the Osaka Jo Hall in Osaka, Japan, the promotion announced Friday.

Tarec Saffiedine will replace Filho on three-day’s notice, confirmed Team Quest on Friday. Saffedine and his cornermen boarded a plane for Japan on Thursday.

The Belgium-born fighter earned a unanimous decision against Seichi Ikemoto in his promotional debut at Dream 10 in July.

The promotion did not give a reason for Filho’s removal.

Filho, 31, had an impressive seven-fight run in Pride Bushido from 2004-2006 to highlight 16 consecutive career victories, but has struggled in recent years.

Known for his grinding takedown-heavy style, Filho captured the WEC middleweight title against Chael Sonnen at WEC 31 in December 2007. He would not fight again for almost another year, and later admitted to a dependency issue with painkillers and a stint in rehab.

Filho lost to Sonnen in an uninspiring rematch at WEC 36 in November 2008. Zuffa, which owns both the UFC and WEC, released the troubled Brazilian from his contract two weeks later. The loss to Sonnen remains the sole blemish on his docket.

Most recently, Filho earned a plodding decision over Alex Schoenauer at Bitetti Combat 4 on Sept. 12 in Brazil.

Calls to Filho’s manager, Ed Soares, were not immediately returned.

This item was updated at 3:40 p.m. ET with information on Filho's replacement.