UFC: JP Buys Replaces Gaston Bolanos Against Marcus McGhee on Aug. 12

JP Buys, UFC
JP Buys, UFC Vegas 57 weigh-in Credit: Alex Behunin/Cageside Press

There’s been a slight change to one fight on the August 12, 2023 UFC card.

Numerically UFC Vegas 78, the Fight Night show had been expected to feature Gaston Bolanos making his second trip to the octagon opposite Marcus McGhee. However with Bolanos out, JP Buys is stepping in to save the bantamweight fight.

Iridium Sports Agency, who represent McGhee, confirmed the news on Tuesday following an earlier report by ESPN Deportes.

McGhee (7-1), who previously competed for LFA, impressed in his promotional debut earlier this year, submitting Journey Newson in a Performance of the Night-winning effort.

South Africa’s Buys (9-5) has lost three straight, and will be competing for the first time in over a year in the bout. His last action came at flyweight in June 2022, when he was knocked out by Cody Durden.

Given his current skid, Buy’s back is almost certainly against the wall.

UFC Vegas 78 is set to be headlined by a welterweight match-up featuring Brazilians Rafael dos Anjos and Vicente Luque. The following fights have been reported for the APEX-based event so far:

  • Vicente Luque vs. Rafael dos Anjos
  • Khalil Rountree Jr. vs. Chris Daukaus
  • Lando Vannata vs. Mike Breeden
  • Polyana Viana vs. Iasmin Lucindo
  • Montserrat Ruiz vs. Jaqueline Amorim
  • Tafon Nchukwi vs. A.J. Dobson
  • Josh Fremd vs. Jamie Pickett
  • Brady Hiestand vs. Da’Mon Blackshear
  • Francis Marshall vs. Isaac Dulgarian
  • Cub Swanson vs. Hakeem Dawodu
  • Marcus McGhee vs. JP Buys