Multiple people with knowledge of the promotion’s plans confirmed to MMA Fighting that Jai Herbert has been scratched from his scheduled UFC Vegas 19 matchup with Klose for undisclosed reasons, and Luis Pena has agreed to step in on less than two weeks’ notice.
Verbal agreements are in place for the new 155 pound bout, which will take place at the UFC APEX.
Klose returns to action for the first time since March, when he was finished by Beneil Dariush in the second round of an action-packed fight at UFC 248. Prior to that, he had won his previous three bouts, which included wins over Lando Vannata, Bobby Green and Christos Giagos. The 32-year-old is 5-2 inside the octagon.
Pena looks to get back in the win column himself after a third-round submission loss to Khama Worthy in June. Since appearing on season 27 of The Ultimate Fighter, “Violent Bob Ross” is 4-3 in his UFC tenure with stoppage wins over Richie Smullen and Matt Wiman.
UFC Vegas 19 is headlined by a heavyweight matchup between Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis.
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