The UFC is searching for a new opponent to face lightweight Devonte Smith at UFC Vegas 18 after a knee injury forced Alex da Silva out of the Feb. 6 card in Las Vegas, multiple people with knowledge of the situation told MMA Fighting following a report from MMA Junkie.
“Leko” da Silva (21-3) suffered an injury to his lateral collateral ligament and will have to remain sidelined from training for eight weeks, sources said. The Brazilian went 1-2 in his first trio of octagon appearances with win over Rodrigo Vargas sandwiched between defeats to Alexander Yakovlev and Brad Riddell.