UFC Vegas 120 sees recently cut fighter return on 2 days’ notice

Gianni Vazquez is making an improbable return to the UFC on extraordinarily short notice at UFC Vegas 120 on Saturday, stepping in on just two days' notice to replace Jessie Rosas against Miles Johns in a featherweight bout.

Vazquez (14-6), who was released by the promotion six months ago following a decision loss to Javid Basharat in his UFC debut, has been called back after earning a second-round knockout victory at Combate Global in recent weeks. The 32-year-old was originally scheduled to compete in a flyweight bout for the LFA on August 21 before receiving the emergency call. Rosas was forced to withdraw due to a suspected infection from a glove scratch on his forehead, according to a statement from his brother and fellow UFC fighter Raul Rosas Jr., who confirmed that a UFC doctor made the final call to pull him from competition despite receiving approval from two other physicians.

Johns (15-5, 1 NC), a veteran bantamweight, is also competing outside his typical weight class and arrives in the bout on a three-fight losing streak, most recently falling to a submission loss against Daniel Marcos in November. Like Vazquez, Johns will be stepping up in weight to featherweight for this matchup.

Vazquez's initial UFC experience was marked by difficulties: he weighed in five pounds over the bantamweight limit during fight week, forfeiting 25 percent of his purse, before losing his debut decision. His quick release and subsequent re-signing represents a rare second chance within such a short timeframe, though both fighters will be operating outside their customary weight classes in a bout assembled under emergency circumstances.