Antonio Carlos Junior now faces Makhmud Muradov at UFC on ESPN+ 28
"Shoeface" has a new opponent for the UFC's first Brazilian card of 2020.
“Cara de Sapato” has a new opponent for UFC on ESPN+ 28.
As a result of Brad Tavares’ withdrawal, Makhmud Muradov has stepped in to take on Antonio Carlos Junior, the promotion announced Friday.
Carlos Junior (10-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) enters UFC on ESPN+ 28 looking to snap a two-fight losing skid. After he dropped an unanimous decision to Ian Heinisch at UFC on ESPN+ 10 in May, Carlos Junior lost a split decision to Uriah Hall at UFC on ESPN+ 16 in September.
Conversely, Muradov (24-6 MMA, 2-0 UFC) is on the other end of the two-fight success spectrum. The Uzbekistani fighter has won both of his outings in the UFC. Following an unanimous decision win over Alessio Di Chirico in his September debut, Muradov flattened Trevor Smith with a brutal overhand right at UFC on ESPN 7 in December. The third-round knockout earned him a $50,000 performance bonus.
UFC on ESPN+ 28 takes place Saturday, March 14 at Ginasio Nilson Nelson in Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil. The event is expected to stream on ESPN+. The main event has yet to be announced.
With the addition to the card, the UFC on ESPN+ 28 lineup now includes:
- Nikita Krylov vs. Johnny Walker
- Jussier Formiga vs. Brandon Moreno
- Amanda Ribas vs. Paige VanZant
- Aleksei Kunchenko vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos
- Antonio Carlos Junior vs. Makhmud Muradov
- Enrique Barzola vs. Rani Yahya
- Veronica Macedo vs. Bea Malecki
- Maryna Moroz vs. Mayra Bueno Silva