A bout recently scheduled for UFC 233 has already undergone a revision, as Alexander Hernandez will replace Islam Makhachev and face Francisco Trinaldo on Jan. 26 in Anaheim, Calif.
Multiple outlets confirmed the new pairing following an initial report from Combate.com. The UFC only officially announced Makhachev vs. Trinaldo last week.
The change — as well as the original bout — was news to Makhachev, who claimed in a social media post that the promotion never gave him a contract to compete at UFC 233.
“About this fight. I don’t know what happened, UFC made and canceled this fight by themselves, I didn’t sign any papers,” Makhachev wrote. “I plan to fight somewhere in February against a top 15 opponent, as promised by Dana White.”
Hernandez enters the matchup on an eight-fight winning streak that includes a pair of triumphs under the UFC banner. Most recently, the 26-year-old San Antonio, Texas, native scored a three-round verdict against Olivier Aubin-Mercier at UFC on Fox 30.
After compiling a seven-bout win streak from September 2014 to September 2016, Trinaldo has alternated wins and losses in his last four Octagon appearances. “Massaranduba” knocked out Evan Dunham in the second round in his most recent outing at UFC Fight Night 137 on Sept. 22.
UFC 233 takes place at the Honda Center and is expected to feature a flyweight title tilt between Henry Cejudo and T.J. Dillashaw as well as a welterweight showdown pitting the debuting Ben Askren against Robbie Lawler.