The UFC is scrambling to salvage its UFC Rio main event after lightweight contender Rafael Fiziev was forced out of his October 11 clash with hometown hero Charles Oliveira. An undisclosed injury sidelined Fiziev just weeks before fight night, leaving Brazil’s Jeunesse Arena without a headliner. Almost instantly, contenders like Benoît Saint-Denis and Mateusz Gamrot stepped up on social media, but Oliveira wasn’t buying it. ‘Do Bronxs’ ripped into the would-be challengers, accusing them of talking big but then turning down the fight when the UFC actually called.

Just when it looked like UFC Rio was destined to flop, momentum shifted. Diego Lopes, fresh off his victory at UFC Paris, threw his name in the mix and said he’d gladly face Oliveira in less than a month. “Of course, why not? Of course I’d accept, especially because Charles is a legend,” Lopes told Laerte Viana. But with the matchup still unconfirmed and UFC Rio looking like it might flop, the card has suddenly found a slim chance to become a blockbuster. How, you ask?

UFC Rio shakes things up and lands a must-see matchup

ABC MMA’s Álvaro Colmenero was the first to break the news on September 22, reporting that a major lightweight prospect is set to make his welterweight debut at UFC Rio. The move comes as a replacement for one side of a highly anticipated veteran vs. veteran matchup. Championship Rounds later reshared the update, posting a picture of both fighters with the caption: “🚨 BREAKING: Vicente Luque vs Joel Alvarez is in the works for #UFCRio on October 11. Santiago Ponzinibbio is out and will be replaced by Joel Alvarez, who is making his welterweight debut.” Ultimately, this matchup has quickly turned into one of the most exciting on the card. Why, you ask?

Joel Alvarez, standing 6’3”, has struggled to make lightweight in the past, even missing weight twice. However, with a 22-3 record and a one-hundred percent finishing rate, the Spanish fighter is a dangerous striker-submission specialist, whose only UFC losses have come against top talents Arman Tsarukyan and Damir Ismagulov. Moreover, at 32, he arguably poses an even tougher challenge for Brazil’s Vicente Luque, a longtime welterweight contender who has struggled to regain momentum in recent years.

Luque, once feared for having one of the best chins in the division, was close to a title shot before suffering surprising back-to-back losses to Geoff Neal and Belal Muhammad in 2022. Adding to his concerns, he also endured a brain bleed that sidelined him, leading many fans to question whether he should continue fighting. Still, ‘The Silent Assassin’ remains a dangerous finisher and brings plenty of experience into the matchup against ‘El Fenomeno’.

While the change of opponent is significant, fans are still in for an action-packed fight. The statistics suggest a finish is almost certain, which means the fans are the ultimate winners. And just to be clear, Vicente Luque was originally scheduled to face Santiago Ponzinibbio, but Joel Alvarez has stepped in, so the fight isn’t canceled, only altered from the original plan. So while Charles Oliveira still doesn’t have an opponent and Joel Alvarez is now confirmed to fight Vicente Luque, what’s the third fight that’s being changed for this event?

Trouble keeps mounting for UFC Rio

The news of Randy Brown’s withdrawal was first reported on X by AG Fight, who wrote, “Randy Brown is out and Gabriel Bonfim is looking for a new opponent for the #ufcrio.” The announcement dealt a blow to UFC Rio’s welterweight lineup just weeks before fight night.

For Gabriel Bonfim, better known as ‘Marretinha,’ the timing couldn’t be worse. The 28-year-old Brazilian is riding a three-fight win streak, highlighted by a submission over Khaos Williams and a razor-thin decision against Stephen Thompson this past July. He had hoped to keep that momentum going in front of a hometown crowd, the same city where he first made a name for himself at UFC 283 with a guillotine choke finish. But unfortunately, he couldn’t do it.

Brown’s withdrawal also disrupts the welterweight storyline. The Jamaican-American was fresh off a knockout win over Nicolas Dalby in April, a fight that earned him ‘Fight of the Night.’ Now, with Charles Oliveira’s main event still unsettled and Bonfim left without an opponent, UFC matchmakers face the urgent task of salvaging the card. That said, can Dana White’s team pull it off? What do you think?