With Azamat Murzakanov out, Anthony Smith steps in to meet Khalil Rountree at UFC Vegas 83

25/11/2023 01:30

Anthony Smith is stepping up on short notice to take on one of the UFC's surging light heavyweights.

On Friday, UFC CEO Dana White announced that due to illness, Azamat Murzakanov is out of his scheduled UFC Austin bout with Khalil Rountree on Dec. 2. Rountree will now shift to the following week's UFC Vegas 83 event to face the one-time UFC title challenger in the co-main event.

After losing two straight bouts, Smith bounced back with a hard fought split decision win over Ryan Spann at UFC Singapore in August, which served as Smith's first win in nearly two years. "Lionheart" is set to make his 21st octagon appearance.

Rountree has been on an absolute tear over the past couple of years, winning four straight — including knockout wins over Modestas Bukauskas, Karl Roberson, and Chris Daukaus, while also picking up a decision win against Dustin Jacoby.

UFC Vegas 83 will be headlined by a bantamweight bout between Song Yadong and Chris Gutierrez.