UFC Scramble to Find Opponent for Lightweight Devonte Smith After His Opponent Falls Out

The UFC Fight Night card on Super Bowl Weekend, February 6, is searching for a late replacement lightweight fighter. Chiefly, Alex da Silva is out of his scheduled bout against Devonte Smith after a ligament injury sent him packing. The news was confirmed by multiple sources after MMA Junkie broke forth the news to the MMA community at large.

The aforementioned fight card is headlined by heavyweights Alistair Overeem and Alexander Volkov in a clinical striking match-up. Moreover, the co-main event is a bout with major bantamweight title implications as Cory Sandhagen scraps against Frankie Edgar. The UFC will be keen to get a marquee lightweight on board to bolster the fight card that has plenty of potential on paper.

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UFC lightweights Devonta Smith vs Alex de Silva- What could have been?

Smith is coming off a TKO loss to Khama Worthy, which ended his six-fight finish streak at UFC 241. Devonta Smith is a true believer in chasing the finish, and that usually ends with high odds of a performance bonus as well. Given his run, and hunger to get back, his presence would have been a delight for fight fans.

Smith made his run in several promotions before getting his big break off Dana White’s Contender Series. Following his stoppage win on the show, the 10-2 standout stamped clinical UFC wins leading up to ‘The Deathstar’. He’s got power in both hands and is an important player in the ever-changing lightweight division.

Alex de Silva is coming off a loss to Brad Riddell at UFC 253 that took place in September. He is 1-2 overall in the UFC and 21-3 as a professional with considerable experience in promotions like Brave CF. Time will be the only indication as to the manner in which his recent ligament injury has compromised his skill set.

The UFC will be scrambling to put on a noteworthy replacement lightweight fight in order to prop up the card. The world leader in MMA has a rich tradition of putting on statement cards on Super Bowl weekend. They’ll certainly be keen on continuing the same.