Scott Holtzman replaces Erik Koch at UFC 195

Scott Holtzman

Erik Koch (14-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC) has been forced to withdraw from next month’s UFC 195 event, and Scott Holtzman (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) has agreed to take his place against Drew Dober (15-7 MMA, 1-3 UFC).

UFC officials today announced the switch in the lightweight contest. A timetable for Koch’s recovery wasn’t initially announced.

Featuring a headlining bout between UFC welterweight champ Robbie Lawler and former interim welterweight title holder Carlos Condit, UFC 195 takes place Jan. 2 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. The evening’s main card airs on pay-per-view.

Holtzman returns to action following a UFC debut victory over Anthony Christodoulou this past August. “Hot Sauce” remains undefeated through the first eight professional contests of is career.

Meanwhile, Dober is in desperate need of a win after a June submission loss to Efrain Escudero dropped his official octagon record to 1-3.

Koch was looking to rebound from a May loss to Daron Cruickshank.

With the change to the card, UFC 195 now includes:

MAIN CARD (pay-per-view)

• Champ Robbie Lawler vs. Carlos Condit – for welterweight title
• Andrei Arlovski vs. Stipe Miocic
• Lorenz Larkin vs. Albert Tumenov
• Diego Brandao vs. Brian Ortega
• Stephen Thompson vs. opponent TBA

PRELIMINARY CARD (FOX Sports 1)

• Masanori Kanehara vs. Michael McDonald
• Nina Ansaroff vs. Justine Kish
• Drew Dober vs. Scott Holtzman
• Tony Sims vs. Abel Trujillo

PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass)

• Joseph Duffy vs. Dustin Poirier
• Joe Soto vs. Michinori Tanaka
• Edgar Garcia vs. Sheldon Westcott

For more on UFC 195, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.