UFC lightweight Michael Johnson has agreed to replace an injured Ross Pearson in a bout at UFC Fight Night 37 against Melvin Guillard on March 8.
Officials announced the switch on Thursday. The event is set to take place at O2 Arena in London.
Johnson (14-8) is coming off a second-round knockout over Gleison Tibau at UFC 168 last month. He publicly campaigned for a fight against lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov, but now draws Guillard instead.
A former contestant on "The Ultimate Fighter," Johnson has compiled a 6-4 record in the Octagon. He is currently on a 2-fight win streak.
Guillard (31-12-2) is a former teammate of Johnson's at the Blackzilians camp in Boca Raton, Fla. He left the team prior to a fight against Mac Danzig last July, which he won via knockout.
The bout between Guillard and Pearson was announced in October, immediately after they fought to a no-contest at UFC Fight Night 30. The result came when Guillard landed what was deemed an unintentional knee to a grounded opponent.
Pearson (15-6) revealed it was a knee injury that forced him from the card, via his Twitter account. The 29-year-old went on to say it would require surgery.
