A very fluid UFC Vegas 52 card has seen another change to its line-up.
On Wednesday, UFC officials announced the removal of Louis Cosce from the event, citing COVID protocols. In his place, promotional newcomer Evan Elder is stepping up, taking on Preston Parsons.
“Due to COVID-19 protocols, Louis Cosce has been removed from his welterweight bout with Preston Parsons,” promotion officials wrote in a brief statement. “Replacing Cosce will be undefeated UFC newcomer Evan Elder, who makes his debut riding a seven fight win streak including four first-round finishes.”
Elder’s management firm, Iridium Sports Agency, also announced the news. Normally a lightweight, he’ll be moving to welterweight for the short-notice opportunity.
Having made his pro debut in 2018, Evan Elder has spent the bulk of his career with Shamrock FC, but has also competed for LFA and FAC. He was expected to face UFC vet Cody Pfister at FAC 13 next month, until the call from the UFC came.
Elder also had an impressive amateur career prior to going 7-0 as a pro. His lone loss among the amateur ranks came to Luis “Violent Bob Ross” Pena.
Parsons (9-3) will be looking to bounce back from a loss in his promotional debut last year. The stoppage at the hands of Daniel Rodriguez snapped a four-fight win streak the Jacksonville, Florida native had compiled.
Having recently lost an exciting flyweight clash between Manel Kape and Su Mudaerji, the UFC Vegas 52 card moves forward with twelve bouts. The event is headlined by a strawweight showdown featuring ex-champ Jessica Andrade making her return to the division, where she will face the surging Amanda Lemos. The following bouts are currently set:
- Amanda Lemos vs. Jéssica Andrade
- Alexander Romanov vs. Chase Sherman
- Clay Guida vs. Claudio Puelles
- Lando Vannata vs. Charles Jourdain
- Maycee Barber vs. Montana De La Rosa
- Preston Parsons vs. Evan Elder
- Jordan Wright vs. Marc-André Barriault
- Dwight Grant vs. Sergey Khandozhko
- Tyson Pedro vs. Ike Villanueva
- Qileng Aori vs. Cameron Else
- Marcin Prachnio vs. Philipe Lins
- Dean Barry vs. Mike Jackson
