Report: James Moontasri vs. Alex Morono rebooked for UFC on FOX 22 in Sacramento

The migration of fights from the canceled UFC Fight Night 97 event continues with the movement of a welterweight fight to December’s UFC on FOX 22 card.

James Moontasri (9-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC) has been rebooked to meet Alex Morono (12-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at UFC on FOX 22, the Los Angeles Daily News reported. UFC officials have not yet formally announced the switch.

UFC Fight Night 97 was scheduled for this past Saturday in Pasay, Manila, Philippines, but was canceled after headliner B.J. Penn dropped out of his fight against Ricardo Lamas and a replacement could not be found in time.

UFC on FOX 22 takes place Dec. 17 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif. The main card, headlined by strawweight prospects Paige VanZant and Michelle Waterson, will air on FOX after prelims expected for FOX and UFC Fight Pass.

Moontasri, a former RFA fighter, has alternated wins and losses since joining the UFC in 2014 as a lightweight. Since moving up to welterweight, the 28-year-old has earned a spinning-backfist/kick TKO win over Anton Zafir and suffered a unanimous-decision loss to Alex Oliveira.

Alex Morono

Morono is a former Legacy FC champion who graduated from the regional powerhouse to the UFC earlier this year. In January, the 26-year-old made his UFC debut on a week’s notice and upset veteran Kyle Noke via split decision.

With the addition, UFC on FOX 22 now includes:

• Paige VanZant vs. Michelle Waterson
• Mickey Gall vs. Sage Northcutt
• Bryan Barberena vs. Colby Covington
• Alan Jouban vs. Mike Perry
• James Moontasri vs. Alex Morono

For more on UFC on FOX 22, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.