Melissa Gatto has withdrawn from UFC 239 for undisclosed reasons according to MMA Junkie, replacing her against Julia Avila is going to be Pannie Kianzad.
Avila (5-1-0) is going to be making her UFC debut in this bout and does so having won five of six as a professional MMA fighter. Avila had a two fight stint in Invicta FC, defeating Alexa Conners and suffering a defeat to Marciea Allen. Avila is a former HD MMA Women’s Bantamweight Champion, defeating former UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion Nicco Montano by unanimous decision to win the gold in January of 2017.
Kianzad (11-4-0) was a finalist on the UFC Ultimate Fighter 28, but lost to Macy Chiasson in the finals by second round submission. Kianzad has won a single bout since that UFC defeat, picking up a win over Bellator MMA veteran Iony Razafiarison at Superior Challenge 19. Kianzad has picked up eleven victories as a professional MMA fighter and eight of those wins came by way of decision.
UFC 239 takes place on Saturday, July 6 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with Jon Jones and Thiago Santos headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
