The UFC just dropped some news about this weekend's Vegas 86 card, and we've got a couple of switcheroos happening. First off, Melsik Baghdasaryan can't make his featherweight fight against Hyder Amil because of an injury. And guess what? Albert Duraev won't be throwing down in his middleweight bout against Robert Bryczek either, thanks to some pesky visa issues.
But don't worry, the UFC's got it covered! Fernie Garcia is jumping in to replace Baghdasaryan, and Ihor Potieria is stepping up for Duraev. It's like musical chairs, UFC style!
Fernie Garcia, who's had a bit of a rough ride in the UFC since joining in 2022 from the Contender Series (with a record of 10-4, but on a three-fight skid in the octagon), is getting another shot. On the flip side, Hyder Amil is all set to make his UFC debut with some solid Contender Series cred of his own.
And then there's Ihor Potieria, who, like Garcia, came into the UFC with high hopes from the Contender Series in 2022. He's sitting at 19-5 but has found the going tough in the big league, sporting a 1-3 record with all three losses by knockout. Robert Bryczek is stepping into the octagon for the first time, so let's see what he brings.