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Rafael Alves now meets CFFC champion Pat Sabatini at UFC Vegas 19

Pat Sabatini will step in as a replacement against Rafael Alves following Mike Trizano’s withdrawal, multiple people with knowledge of the change told MMA Fighting.

Alves first announced the switch on social media.

Sabatini (13-3) regained the Cage Fury FC featherweight gold in his most recent fight, defeating Jesse Stirn via second-round armbar in December, re-capturing the title he’s held since 2017 but lost in early 2020 due to an arm injury. Sabatini is on a two-fight winning streak.

Alves (19-9) is a former Titan FC lightweight champion who signed with the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020, tapping Alejandro Flores with a guillotine choke in August.