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On Friday, UFC CEO Dana White announced that Azamat Murzakanov has withdrawn from his UFC Austin fight with Khalil Rountree on Dec. 2 due to illness. Rountree will now move to the next week’s UFC Vegas 83 event to face the former UFC title challenger in the co-main event.
Smith has been on a losing streak, dropping two consecutive bouts. He recovered with a tough split decision victory over Ryan Spann at UFC Singapore in August, which was Smith’s first win in almost two years. “Lionheart” is ready to make his 21st appearance in the octagon.
Rountree has been unstoppable in the last couple of years, winning four in a row — including knockout victories over Modestas Bukauskas, Karl Roberson, and Chris Daukaus, while also earning a decision win over Dustin Jacoby.
UFC Vegas 83 will be topped by a bantamweight fight between Song Yadong and Chris Gutierrez.