3x NCAA Champion Bo Nickal (4-0) will kick off the UFC 290 main card on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
After all, Nickal will still be competing at UFC 290.
Nickal’s original opponent, Tresean Gore, pulled out of the fight due to injury just four days prior to the event.
The UFC found Gore’s replacement in Valentine Woodburn (7-0), an undefeated middleweight who was set to fight on the Dana White Contender Series before being called on to fight Nickal.
Woodburn previously competed in Combat Night MMA, where he won five of his seven fights by finish and claimed the promotions middleweight championship.
However, he will have his hands full with Nickal. Nickal comes into the contest as the biggest favorite in UFC history at -2500 and will look to improve his perfect record to 5-0.
It will be interesting to see how Nickal responds to a short notice fight so early on in his career, and faces an opponent who has proved to be dangerous on his feet.
UFC 290’s main card airs live at 10 p.m. EST on Saturday night and can be watched on ESPN PPV.
