UFC middleweight Derek Brunson has been forced out of his upcoming bout against Jack Hermansson due to an undisclosed injury, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.
Brunson (23-8) was supposed to face Hermansson (23-7) in a highly ranked bout at UFC Fight Night on Dec. 3 in Orlando, Florida. The UFC already has filled Brunson's spot with surging Georgian contender Roman Dolidze, sources said.
Dolidze (11-1) has not cracked the UFC's top 15 rankings but holds an impressive 5-1 mark inside the Octagon. He is coming off an upset first-round knockout of Phil Hawes at a UFC Fight Night on Oct. 29.
Hermansson, of Sweden, has had a run of bad luck when it comes to opponents in 2022. He was supposed to face fan favorite and highly ranked Darren Till in July, but Till was forced out with injury. He fought unranked Chris Curtis instead and won by decision. This time, he trades a fight against the No. 5-ranked Brunson for the unranked Dolidze.
A welterweight fight between Stephen Thompson and Kevin Holland is scheduled to headline UFC Fight Night at Amway Center.