UFC 288 loses important main card fight, searches for short-notice replacement

Jonathan Pearce is forced to pull out of UFC 288. Photo via Instagram (@jspmma)

There’s just no end to the trouble UFC is facing right now.

As Frontkick reported earlier today, Renato Moicano had to pull out of his main event bout on April 29.

Now, the pivotal featherweight matchup between Bryce Mitchell and Jonathan Pearce, which was scheduled to take place on the UFC 288 main card, is also off.

At the moment, it’s not clear why Pearce had to pull out, but Mitchell later revealed the UFC is looking for a short-notice replacement for Pearce.

“They lookin for a new opponent. I’m down to scrap!” Mitchell tweeted.

Mitchell is looking to bounce back after his first career loss last December. Before the defeat, the American featherweight was undefeated with 15 professional wins.

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Announced fights for UFC 288

UFC 288 takes place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on May 6.

The card is headlined by a bantamweight title fight between champion Aljamain Sterling and former champ Henry Cejudo.

• Bantamweight: Aljamain Sterling (c) vs. Henry Cejudo
• Lightweight: Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush
• Women’s strawweight: Jéssica Andrade vs. Yan Xiaonan
• Featherweight: Kron Gracie vs. Charles Jourdain
• Lightweight: Drew Dober vs. Matt Frevola
• Light heavyweight: Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Devin Clark
• Welterweight: Khaos Williams vs. Rolando Bedoya
• Women’s strawweight: Marina Rodriguez vs. Virna Jandiroba
• Middleweight: Phil Hawes vs. Ikram Aliskerov
• Flyweight: Rafael Estevam vs. Zhalgas Zhumagulov
• Middleweight: Joseph Holmes vs. Claudio Ribiero
• Bantamweight: Daniel Santos vs. Johnny Muñoz Jr.

* Fight order and number of bouts can change.

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