Justin Salas Replaces Injured Quinn Mulhern to Face Thiago Tavares at UFC Fight Night 32

Quinn Mulhern (18-3) was hoping to rebound from a technical knockout loss in his UFC debut with a win at UFC Fight Night 32.  The opportunity to capture his first UFC victory will have to wait for a later date.

Mulhern was scheduled to face Thiago Tavares at UFC Fight Night 32 on Nov. 9, but an injury has forced the lightweight off the card.  Justin Salas has agreed to replace Mulhern against Tavares on short notice.

UFC officials confirmed the injury and opponent change on Friday.

Salas (11-4) has won two of his three UFC fights.  He won his debut, defeating Anton Kuivanen before losing his second UFC bout to Tim Means.  He’s coming off a split decision win over mixed martial arts veteran Aaron Riley in his last outing.

Tavares (17-5-1) is a 13-fight UFC veteran.  He’s won Fight of the Night honors on three occasions and Submission of the Night once.  He is coming off a knockout loss to rising lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov on Jan. 19.  Following the fight, it was revealed that Tavares tested positive to the banned substance Drostanolone and was suspended for nine months.

The fight with Salas will be Tavares’ first fight back from suspension and hopes to erase the memory of the failed drug test with an impressive performance.

UFC Fight Night 32 takes place on Nov. 9 at the Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil.