Jose Johnson Replaces Brady Hiestand, Meets Da'Mon Blackshear at UFC on ESPN 51

Dana White’s Contender Series alum Jose Johnson will step in on short notice to face Da'Mon Blackshear at UFC on ESPN 51 this Saturday.

Johnson is a replacement for Brady Hiestand, who withdrew from the card due to a “medical issue.” The Las Vegas-based promotion announced the new bantamweight pairing on Tuesday. UFC on ESPN 51 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and is headlined by a welterweight duel pitting Vicente Luque against Rafael dos Anjos.

Johnson enters the matchup on a three-fight winning streak. He last appeared at the Contender Series in August 2022, when he earned a unanimous decision triumph over Jack Cartwright. The 28-year-old Flint, Michigan, native owns a 15-7 career mark with appearances in Fury Fighting Championship and Legacy Fighting Championship to his credit.

A former Cage Fury Fighting Championships title holder, Blackshear is 1-1-1 since making is Octagon debut in August 2022. Most recently, “Da Monster” scored a second-round TKO victory against Luan Lacerda at UFC on ESPN 46 on June 3. The Jackson-Wink MMA export is 13-5-1 over the course of a pro tenure that began in 2014.