Cody
Durden will attempt to snap a four-bout skid on short notice. |
Getty/UFC
This weekend’s
UFC Vegas 116 card has undergone a couple late changes, the
promotion announced Monday.
Lucas
Rocha has withdrawn from a proposed flyweight booking against
Jafel
Filho due to an undisclosed injury. As a result, Cody Durden
will step in on less than a week’s notice to face Filho.
Additionally, a lightweight pairing pitting Francis
Marshall against Lucas
Brennan has been added to the UFC Vegas 116 bill.
UFC Vegas 116 — also known as UFC Fight Night 274 — takes place on
Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and is headlined by a
featherweight clash between Aljamain
Sterling and Youssef
Zalal. The event airs in its entirety on Paramount+ beginning
at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.
Durden will take a four-bout losing streak into his short-notice
assignment. Most recently, the 35-year-old Georgian dropped a
unanimous decision to Nyamjargal
Tumendemberel at UFC 326 on March 7.
Filho has won three of his last four bouts, including a submission
of Clayton
Carpenter at UFC Fight Night 261 this past October.
Newcomer Steps into the ‘Fire’
Marshall is 3-3 in the UFC since competing on
Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022. He kicked off his 2026
campaign with a first-round submission victory against Erik Silva
at UFC Mexico on Feb. 28.
Brennan, a former
Professional Fighters League and Bellator
MMA talent, will make his Octagon debut at UFC Vegas 116.
“Skywalker” has been victorious in 11 of 13 professional outings —
finishing all but one of his wins inside the distance.