Mehdi Baghdad Replaces Mairbek Taisumov at Sunday’s UFC Fight Night in Boston

Visa issues have forced the removal of Mairbek Taisumov from this weekend’s Ultimate Fighting Championship event.

The 27-year-old Russian lightweight was scheduled to face Chris Wade -- a replacement for Taisumov’s original foe, Beneil Dariush -- at UFC Fight Night “Dillashaw vs. Cruz,” which takes place Sunday at TD Garden in Boston. However, Wade in a Monday post on Instagram wrote that he will instead face short-notice opponent Mehdi Baghdad of France.

Wade, 28, will be looking to extend a five-fight winning streak which includes three consecutive victories to begin his Octagon career. The New Yorker was last seen in June 2015, when he earned a unanimous decision against Christos Giagos.

Baghdad, 30, is also on a hot streak, having won seven straight official bouts, though he suffered an exhibition loss to Julian Erosa during Season 22 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” The Team Quest representative captured the vacant Resurrection Fighting Alliance lightweight belt in December 2014 by knocking out Zach Juusola.