UFC targets Kyle Daukaus vs. Julian Marquez for Feb. 19 event

Kyle Daukaus won’t get to compete Saturday, but he already has his next fight booked.

Daukaus (10-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC), who had his UFC Fight Night 197 matchup with Roman Dolidze scrapped due to COVID-19 protocols, has verbally agreed to meet Julian Marquez (9-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) at a UFC “Fight Night” event Feb. 19, which is expected to take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup informed MMA Junkie of the targeted booking but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Former CFFC middleweight champion Daukaus is coming off a no contest against Kevin Holland in October. Originally called a submission win for Daukaus, the decision was overturned after the replay revealed an accidental clash of heads knocked Holland unconscious and led to the fight-ending sequence. The pair was scheduled to rematch Saturday at UFC Fight Night 197, but Holland withdrew due to injury. Dolidze replaced Holland, but the fight was removed from the card after Dolidze was forced out due to COVID-19 protocols.

Boasting a 100 percent finishing rate, Marquez has notched bonuses in two straight fights. He submitted Maki Pitolo and, most recently, Sam Alvey at UFC on ABC 2 in April. Marquez was scheduled to face Jordan Wright at UFC Fight Night 195 in October, but the fight was canceled when Marquez withdrew with non-COVID health issues.

With the addition, the Feb. 19 UFC lineup now includes:

• Chad Anheliger vs. Jesse Strader
• Austin Lingo vs. Jonathan Pearce
• Chas Skelly vs. Mark Striegl
• Kyle Daukaus vs. Julian Marquez