November 24, 2023 7:34 pm ET
Khalil Rountree lost his opponent and will no longer be competing at UFC on ESPN 52. However, a former title challenger has stepped up as a replacement for a fight to take place a week later.
Rountree (12-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) was scheduled to face Azamat Murzakanov at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas on Dec. 2. However, UFC CEO Dana White has announced the undefeated Murzakanov (13-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) has pneumonia and will no longer be able to compete.
All is not lost for Rountree though, as former light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Smith has stepped up as a replacement. The new matchup announced by White in a video posted to Instagram will now take place a week later at UFC Fight Night 233 on Dec. 9 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Smith (37-18 MMA, 12-8 UFC) will compete for the third time in 2023. In his last outing, “Lionheart” picked up a split decision win in a rematch against Ryan Spann at UFC Fight Night 225. The result snapped a two-fight skid for the former title challenger, marking Smith’s first win since defeating Spann by submission in their first meeting.
Rountree gets to ensure a fight camp doesn’t go to waste by fighting a week later than originally planned. The fight will be Rountree’s second of 2023, following a knockout finish of Chris Daukaus at UFC on ESPN 51 in August.
With the change, the current lineup on Dec. 9 includes:
Song Yadong vs. Chris Guiterrez
Anthony Smith vs. Khalil Rountree
Andre Muniz vs. Junyong Park
Nasrat Haqparast vs. Jamie Mullarkey
Carlos Hernandez vs. Tatsuro Taira
Su Mudaerji vs. Allan Nascimento
Sung Hyun Park vs. Shannon Ross
Kevin Jousset vs. Song Kenan
Stephanie Egger vs. Luana Santos
Talita Alencar vs. Rayanne dos Santos
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