Jim Wallhead to Make Octagon Debut vs. Jessin Ayari at UFC Fight Night Hamburg

English veteran Jim Wallhead will make his promotional debut at UFC Fight Night “Arlovski vs. Barnett” in Hamburg, Germany, on Sept. 3.

The Las Vegas-based promotion announced Wednesday that Wallhead will replace Emil Weber Meek and face Jessin Ayari in a welterweight bout at the event. Meek was pulled from the card due to a potential USADA conflict stemming from a medical treatment he received prior to signing with the UFC.

UFC Fight Night takes place at Barclaycard Arena and is headlined by a heavyweight clash between Andrei Arlovski and Josh Barnett. The card will stream in its entirety on UFC Fight Pass.

A 38-fight veteran, Wallhead has competed for organizations such as Bellator MMA, Cage Warriors Fighting Championship, the British Association of Mixed Martial Arts and KSW over the course of a career that began in 2005. “Judo” Jim enters his first promotional foray on a four-fight winning streak, with three of those triumphs coming via KO or TKO.

Ayari went 15-3 on the regional circuit before signing with the UFC. His most recent triumph was a decision victory over three-time Octagon veteran Mickael Lebout at a German event on April 16. Ayari has won his last six fights.