UFC Fight Night Changes: A Simple Guide for Beginners

What Is Going On?

The UFC is like a big, organized show where trained fighters compete in a cage using punches, kicks, and wrestling moves. Sometimes a fighter gets hurt (called an injury) and cannot fight. When that happens, the fight plans have to change. Here is what changed for the upcoming event.

Fights That Got Canceled or Changed

Kevin Holland’s Fight Is Off

• Kevin Holland got hurt and cannot fight.
• He was supposed to face a fighter named Jacobe Smith.
• Because Kevin is injured, this fight is taken off the event’s list of scheduled fights (we call that list the card).

Veronica Hardy’s Fight Gets a New Face

• Veronica Hardy also got injured.
• She was supposed to fight Dione Barbosa in a flyweight match. (Flyweight is just a division for smaller, lighter fighters—like a category for the little kids in a sports league.)
• Veronica is out, and a new person will take her place (see below).

New Fighters Joining the Fun

RJ Harris Replaces Allen Frye

• Allen Frye was originally set to fight Alvin Hines in a heavyweight matchup. (Heavyweight means the fighters are the biggest and heaviest—like the biggest kids in the league.)
• Now, a fighter named RJ Harris will take Allen’s spot and fight Alvin Hines.
• RJ Harris has a very impressive fight history:
  • He has won 5 fights and lost 0 (we say his record is 5-0).
  • He ended 4 of those fights early (these are called finishes, because the fight doesn’t go to the judges).
  • Out of those 4 finishes, 3 were by submission. That means he made the other fighter give up by trapping them in a hold.

Anna Melisano Steps In for Veronica

• A newcomer (someone new to the UFC) named Anna Melisano is joining the show.
• She comes from a city called Birmingham, Alabama.
• She will replace Veronica Hardy and fight Dione Barbosa.
• Anna has won her last 5 fights in a row.
• Out of those 5 wins, 3 were finishes (they ended early, not by judges deciding).

When and Where to Watch

• The event is named UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs Usman.
• It will happen on July 18.
• The location is the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.

Important: Because fighters got hurt, some fights you might have expected are gone or changed. To know the very latest, keep an eye on UFC.com for updates and announcements!

Summary

Let’s recap all the key points:

• Kevin Holland is out due to injury; his bout with Jacobe Smith is removed from the card.
• Veronica Hardy is out due to injury; her flyweight fight with Dione Barbosa now features newcomer Anna Melisano from Birmingham, Alabama, who has 5 straight wins (3 by finish).
• RJ Harris replaces Allen Frye to face Alvin Hines in a heavyweight fight; Harris holds a 5-0 record with 4 finishes (3 by submission).
• The UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs Usman event takes place July 18 at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
• Always check UFC.com for the newest information.

FAQ

Q1: What is the UFC?
A: Think of it as a league where trained athletes fight each other in a cage using safe, ruled sports moves. It’s like a supervised competition, not a playground scrap.

Q2: What does it mean when a fighter is "injured"?
A: It means they got hurt—like a broken bone or pulled muscle—so they cannot safely train or compete.

Q3: What is a "finish" in a fight?
A: Usually fights can go the distance and judges pick a winner. A finish means the fight ends early because one fighter wins by knockout (the other can’t continue) or submission (the other gives up).

Q4: What is a submission?
A: It’s when a fighter locks the other in a painful or risky hold, and the trapped fighter taps to say “I give up” before getting badly hurt.

Q5: Why are there weight classes like heavyweight and flyweight?
A: Just like in school sports, it’s fairer to match people of similar size. Flyweight is for lighter/smaller fighters, heavyweight is for bigger/heavier ones.