Andre Muniz has been forced to withdraw from his upcoming fight with Ikram Aliskerov at UFC Saudi Arabia due to passport issues, as he announced on social media over the weekend.
The UFC has decided to reschedule the bout to a later date instead of finding a last-minute replacement for Aliskerov, although an official announcement from the organization is still pending.
UFC Saudi Arabia is set to take place on February 1 at the anb Arena in Riyadh, featuring a main event showdown between former champion Israel Adesanya and Nassourdine Imavov.
Muniz and Aliskerov were initially scheduled to face off in June 2024, but Muniz had to pull out due to a foot injury. Aliskerov went on to fight Robert Whittaker in Saudi Arabia, where he suffered his first loss in seven fights against the former UFC middleweight champion.
With a professional record of 15-2, Aliskerov has secured impressive first-round victories over Phil Hawes and Warlley Alves in the UFC. He made his way to the promotion after a quick finish over Mario Sousa on Dana White’s Contender Series.
On the other hand, Muniz’s last fight was in December 2023, where he claimed a split decision win over Jun Yong Park to improve his UFC record to 6-2 and his overall MMA record to 24-6. Known for his submission skills, Muniz has earned first-round armbars over Ronaldo Souza, Eryk Anders, and Bartosz Fabinski in the octagon.