Dubai-based Mounir Lazzez's UFC return to go ahead after Ange Loosa steps in last minute

Lazzez's original opponent, Elizeu Zaleski, withdrew this week from the weekend's bout in Las Vegas

Mounir Lazzez of Tunisia celebrates after his unanimous-decision victory over Abdul Razak Alhassan in their welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. All Photos by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Mounir Lazzez (right) of Tunisia punches Abdul Razak Alhassan of Ghana in their welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Mounir Lazzez (left) of Tunisia punches Abdul Razak Alhassan of Ghana in their welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Mounir Lazzez (right) of Tunisia throws a flying knee against Abdul Razak Alhassan of Ghana in their welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Abdul Razak Alhassan (left) of Ghana punches Mounir Lazzez of Tunisia in their welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Mounir Lazzez (right) of Tunisia punches Abdul Razak Alhassan of Ghana in their welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JULY 16: (L-R) Mounir Lazzez of Tunisia elbows Abdul Razak Alhassan of Ghana in their welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island on July 16, 2020 in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Dubai-based Mounir Lazzez will compete at UFC Fight Night this weekend after Ange Loosa agreed to step in to replace Elizeu Zaleski on four days’ notice, The National understands.

The Tunisia-born Lazzez, who lives and trains in Dubai, was scheduled to face Zaleski at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday night, marking his return to the UFC following a 15-month hiatus.

However, the Brazilian withdrew from the bout earlier this week, reportedly citing personal reasons. The card is headlined by the welterweight clash between No 5-ranked contender Vicente Luque and No 6 Belal Muhammad. The UFC has yet to confirm Loosa as Lazzez's new opponent.

A former Desert Force welterweight champion, Lazzez has one win and one defeat since making his UFC debut at the inaugural Fight Island in Abu Dhabi in July 2020. In his most recent appearance, in January last year, he lost to Warlley Alves via first-round TKO. That bout also took place in Abu Dhabi.

Lazzez was scheduled to make his return last July against Niklas Stolze, but was forced to withdraw from the Las Vegas event because of visa issues. His professional MMA record stands at 10-2.

Meanwhile, Loosa makes his UFC bow only two weeks after scoring a decision victory at XMMA 4 against John Howard. That win lifted the Swiss welterweight’s pro MMA record to 8-2.