UFC Vegas 77 loses Walt Harris bout due to USADA issues

UFC Vegas 77 features a women’s bantamweight bout between former champion Holly Holm and rising star Mayro Bueno Silva, but on Wednesday lost a pivotal heavyweight bout. Walt Harris vs. Josh Parisian was pulled from the card, according to UFC officials.

The promotion’s statement regarding the bout’s removal noted that it was Harris that was pulled because of “an issue with a recent USADA collected sample” from him. No further details accompanied the announcement.

Jack Della Maddalena lands a UFC Vegas 77 bout following UFC 290 dissappointment

There was already good news this week for No. 14 ranked welterweight contender Jack Della Maddalena. He had had two opponents drop out within the final week before his planned fight at UFC 290. That forced him off of the fight card.

UFC matchmakers moved swiftly to sign Octagon newcomer Bassil Hafez to pit him against Della Maddalena on this week’s UFC Vegas 77 fight card.

Hafez makes his debut coming off of a third-round KO victory that earned him the Fury FC welterweight championship earlier this year.