Chris Clements Replaces Thiago Alves, Faces Siyar Bahadurzada at UFC 149

UFC officials Monday announced the swap, confirming recent reports that Bahadurzada’s original opponent, Thiago Alves, was forced from the bout due to injury.

The 170-pounders will meet July 21 at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, on a card headlined by a UFC featherweight title bout between divisional ruler Jose Aldo and once-beaten Erik Koch. Another of the card’s main attractions remains up in the air, as the UFC has yet to confirm a new foe for former 205-pound ace Mauricio Rua, whose original opponent, Thiago Silva, dropped out last week.

Clements, 36, will make his sophomore Octagon appearance, having outpointed veteran Keith Wisniewski in his April debut at UFC 145. A student of the late Shawn Tompkins, Clements made a name for himself in November 2010 by halting Jonathan Goulet with a vicious second-round knockout which sent the UFC veteran into retirement.

Bahadurzada announced his presence on the world stage in April by clobbering skilled grappler Paulo Thiago in just 42 seconds at UFC on Fuel TV 2. The Afghan-born Golden Glory product currently rides a seven-fight winning streak, with five of those victories coming by way of first-round knockout.