MMA Fighting confirmed with sources that recently signed Brazilian fighter John Allan is stepping in for Gian Villante to fight Rodriguez in a light heavyweight bout at next week’s card on July 13. The change was first reported by Wrestling Observer.
It is not yet known why Villante was forced to withdraw.
Allan (13-5) competed on the Brazilian edition of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series last August, losing by second-round submission to Vinicius Moreira. He bounced back with a first-round TKO of Alexandre Silva at a Future Fighting Championships show in late June before signing with the UFC.