Modestas Bukauskas to face short-notice replacement Andreas Michailidis at July 15 UFC ‘Fight Island’ show

Former Cage Warriors champion Modestas Bukauskas has a new opponent for his UFC debut.

MMA Fighting confirmed with sources that Bukauskas will now fight short-notice replacement Andreas Michailidis in a light heavyweight bout on July 15 at a UFC “Fight Island” show in Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Michailidis is stepping in after Bukauskas’s original opponent Vinicius Moreira tested positive for COVID-19.

The new matchup was first reported by Lithunia’s Sportas.lt.

Bukauskas (10-2) enters the UFC on the strength of six consecutive wins. In his most recent fight in November, Bukauskas successfully defended the Cage Warriors light heavyweight title with a first-round knockout of Riccardo Nosiglia.

Michailidis (12-3) hails from Greece, but his previous two fights took place in Florida. He has won seven of his past eight fights, with six of those wins coming by way of first-round knockout.