Not surprisingly, so much movement in terms of fights right now. Very little staying as planned. Chris Weidman is looking for a new opponent on 5/2, Overeem – Harris looking like it’s getting moved 5/16, Dern – Cifers on 4/25, Cejudo-Cruz … so many moving parts. Wild times.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 9, 2020
One Ultimate Fighting Championship fight scuttled on Thursday has already seen a replacement step up.
On Thursday, reports came out that multiple Brazilian fighters would no longer be able to compete at U.S.-based UFC cards due to visa restrictions. One such matchup that fell off was a bout between Mackenzie Dern (7-1) and Ariane Carnelossi. The latter unable to travel to the U.S. for the April 25 UFC Fight Night card, ESPN first reported that Hannah Cifers (10-4) will be taking the bout on short notice. It is presumed the two will meet at strawweight.
Dern is looking to bounce back from her first career defeat, as she dropped a decision to Amanda Ribas in October. The multiple-time ADCC World Champion grappler has tapped four of her opponents in her previously undefeated career, with her last victory coming by first-round rear-naked choke over Amanda Bobby Cooper.
Cifers is similarly coming off of a loss, suffering a knockout at the hands of Angela Hill in January. The North Carolinian celebrates half of her wins by knockout, and had a two-fight win streak over Polyana Viana and Jodie Esquibel snapped by Hill.
The UFC Fight Night card on April 25 originally scheduled to take place in Lincoln, Nebraska, currently does not have a location set. It will still be headlined by a light heavyweight tussle between two former title challengers in Anthony Smith and Glover Teixeira.