Fiziev out, Oliveira seeks replacement for UFC Rio main

Rafael Fiziev has withdrawn from the Oct. 11 UFC card in Rio de Janeiro with an undisclosed injury, leaving former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira without a confirmed opponent as the promotion scrambles to salvage its main event less than three weeks before fight night. The change also follows the cancellation of Gabriel Bonfim's bout after his opponent, Randy Brown, pulled out, further disrupting a card built around Brazilian stars.

Brazilian media reported Fiziev's withdrawal and multiple fighters immediately offered to step in. Mateusz Gamrot, Renato Moicano and Benoit Saint Denis were among those to publicly express interest, and Diego Lopes also told local media he would accept the fight. Some outlets additionally reported that Joel Alvarez is in talks to replace Santiago Ponzinibbio against Vicente Luque on the same card, a matchup presented as a welterweight debut for Alvarez, though the promotion has not formally confirmed the Luque-Alvarez pairing.

Oliveira, who asked to headline in his home country and sold out tickets after the bout was announced, publicly criticized fighters who he says have claimed willingness to replace Fiziev but declined once the UFC made...