Onetime bantamweight title challenger Joe Soto will step in for Norifumi Yamamoto and face Chris Beal at UFC Fight Night Ottawa on June 18.
Promotion officials announced the change on Thursday. UFC Fight Night takes place at TD Place Arena in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and is headlined by a pivotal welterweight showdown between Rory MacDonald and Stephen Thompson. A reason for Yamamoto’s withdrawal was not revealed.
A Bellator and Tachi Palace Fights veteran, Soto made his Octagon debut in a 135-pound title bout against T.