Renato Carneiro won’t be competing at UFC 231 after originally scheduled foe Mirsad Bektic was forced to withdraw due to injury. But “Moicano” will be in Toronto for the event in order to provide the promotion with a backup plan.
The Las Vegas-based organization announced on Wednesday that Carneiro vs. Bektic has officially been scrapped from UFC 231, and the Brazilian will not remain on the card against a replacement opponent. Instead, Carneiro will serve as an alternate for the featherweight championship headliner between Max Holloway and Brian Ortega.
“Moicano” will be in Canada during fight week and will go through the process of making weight to be ready in case either Holloway or Ortega is forced to withdraw from the bout. Holloway was supposed to defend his belt against Ortega at UFC 226 but was pulled from the card just days before the event due to concussion-like symptoms.
Carneiro is 13-1 as a professional and 5-1 in the UFC, with his only setback coming against Ortega via third-round submission at UFC 214. The 29-year-old last appeared at UFC 227, where he tapped out Cub Swanson with a rear-naked choke in the opening stanza.
UFC 231 takes place at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Dec. 8 and also includes a women’s flyweight championship tilt between Valentina Shevchenko and Joanna Jedrzejczyk.