Muhammadjon Naimov Steps In for Kutateladze, Meets Mullarkey at UFC on ESPN 46

Muhammadjon
Naimov will make his Octagon debut on less than a week’s
notice.

The former Dana White’s Contender Series competitor will replace
Guram
Kutateladze and meet Jamie
Mullarkey in a featherweight bout at UFC on ESPN 46. MMA
Mania was first to report the new booking. Visa issues
reportedly forced Kutatelade to withdraw from the bout.
UFC on ESPN 46 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las
Vegas and is headlined by a flyweight tilt pitting Kai Kara France
against Amir
Albazi.

Naimov will enter the matchup with Mullarkey on a three-bout
winning streak. He appeared on the Contender Series in September
2020, losing a unanimous decision to Collin
Anglin. “Hillman” is 8-2 as a professional, which includes a
5-1 mark within the Titan FC organization.

Mullarkey has been victorious in four of his last five UFC
appearances. Most recently, the 28-year-old Australian outpointed
Francisco
Prado at UFC 284 on Feb. 11.