Report: Vera withdraws from UFC 316 fight vs. Bautista

Former bantamweight title challenger Marlon "Chito" Vera is out of his UFC 316 matchup against Mario Bautista for an undisclosed reason, sources told MMA Fighting's Mike Heck.

Vera-Bautista was scheduled for the main card of the June 7 pay-per-view event in Newark.

The promotion is seeking a replacement to step in against Bautista on short notice.

Vera was looking to rebound from back-to-back losses to Sean O'Malley and Deiveson Figueiredo. The No. 7-ranked bantamweight hasn't been victorious since a unanimous decision win over Pedro Munhoz in August 2023.

Bautista, ranked No. 10 in the division, is riding a seven-fight winning streak. He most recently defeated UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo by split decision at UFC 307 last October.

In the UFC 316 main event, 135-pound champion Merab Dvalishvili will defend his title in a rematch against O'Malley. The card also features a women's bantamweight title bout between champ Julianna Pena and Kayla Harrison.