Makwan Amirkhani Replaces Sodiq Yusuff, Meets Edson Barboza at UFC Fight Night 179

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Makwan Amirkhani will step in for Sodiq Yusuff and face Edson Barboza at UFC Fight Night 179.

Combate was first to report the change to the featherweight bout. A reason for Yusuff’s withdrawal is currently unknown. UFC Fight Night 179 takes place on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 10 and is headlined by a bantamweight showdown between Marlon Moraes and Cory Sandhagen.

Amirkhani, 31, enters the matchup with Barboza having won three of his last four Octagon appearances. Most recently, “Mr. Finland” scored a first-round submission of Danny Henry at UFC 251 on July 11.

Barboza made his featherweight debut at UFC on ESPN 8, where he dropped a closely-contested split decision against Dan Ige on May 16. The 34-year-old Brazilian has lost five of his last six promotional outings, with his only win during that stretch coming in a lopsided beating of Dan Hooker at UFC on Fox 31 in December 2018.