Michael Bisping’s No. 1 TUF 34 pick steps in to save fight at UFC Oklahoma City

Anna Melisano will step in to face Dione Barbosa at UFC Oklahoma City on July 18, replacing the originally scheduled Veronica Hardy. The pairing was confirmed by both fighters on social media following initial reporting.

Melisano, a 29-year-old strawweight with a 6–1 professional record, recently competed on The Ultimate Fighter 34, where she was selected as Michael Bisping's first pick in the weight class. However, her TUF debut ended in disappointment when she suffered a first-round submission loss to Melissa Amaya. The fight with Barbosa offers Melisano a chance to bounce back and establish herself in the UFC's strawweight division.

Barbosa brings a 9–4 record to the matchup and has competed five times under the UFC banner, winning three of those fights. Nicknamed "The Witch," Barbosa most recently secured a decision victory over Melissa Gatto in April and will look to maintain momentum against Melisano. Her UFC tenure has been marked by inconsistency, alternating between wins and losses.

The bout takes place on a card headlined by a five-round middleweight main event between former UFC champions Dricus Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.