Bouts at Three Upcoming UFC Events Altered Due to Fighter Withdrawals

The Ultimate Fighting Championship recently had to make some tweaks to three bouts on upcoming cards, the promotion announced Friday.

First, John Phillips has withdrawn from his Octagon debut against Marcos Rogerio de Lima at UFC on Fox 23 in Denver on Jan. 28. Phillips will be replaced in the light heavyweight contest by Jeremy Kimball, a former Bellator MMA and Resurrection Fighting Alliance competitor on a four-fight winning streak.

Meanwhile, Jan Blachowicz has pulled out of a proposed clash against Ovince St. Preux at UFC Fight Night 104 in Houston on Feb. 4. Blachowicz will be replaced in the 205-pound contest by Switzerland native Volkan Oezdemir. The 27-year-old enters his first promotional foray with a 12-1 career mark.

Finally, Garreth McLellan will step in for Alex Nicholson and face Paulo Henrique Costa in a middleweight tilt at UFC Fight Night 106 in Fortaleza, Brazil, March 11. McLellan has lost three of his four Octagon appearances.