David Branch will get to remain on the UFC 230 bill, as Jared Cannonier has agreed to face the Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu product on short notice.
The promotion announced the new middleweight matchup on Monday. Branch’s original foe, Ronaldo Souza, was elevated to the co-main event against Chris Weidman after Luke Rockhold pulled out of the card due to injury.
UFC 230 takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York on Nov. 3 and is headlined by a heavyweight championship clash between Daniel Cormier and Derrick Lewis.
Cannonier was previously scheduled to square off against Alessio Di Chirico at UFC Fight Night 140 in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Nov. 17. It is unclear if Di Chirico will get a new opponent for that card. “The Killa Gorilla” will attempt to halt a two-fight skid at UFC 230 after dropping back-to-back fights at the hands of Dominick Reyes and Jan Blachowicz at 205 pounds. Cannonier is 3-4 in the Octagon and 10-4 as a professional overall.
A former two-division World Series of Fighting champion, Branch has won two of three during his second promotional stint. Most recently, he scored a first-round knockout of Thiago Santos at UFC Fight Night 128 on April 21.