Matt Brown Pulled from Feb. 14 Fight Night Card, Now Faces Johny Hendricks at UFC 185

Matt Brown has a new date and opponent for his next bout. | Photo: Jeff Sherwood/Sherdog.com

The Las Vegas-based promotion Tuesday announced the new matchup. Brown was originally scheduled to face Tarec Saffiedine on Feb. 14, but the Belgian fighter withdrew from the bout and the UFC was unable to find a replacement opponent for Brown.

Instead, a welterweight clash pitting Brandon Thatch against Stephen Thompson will headline the Fight Night card, which takes place at 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colo. and airs on Fox Sports 1. Thatch-Thompson will now be a five-round affair.

UFC 185, meanwhile, takes place at American Airlines Center in Dallas on March 14 and features a lightweight title tilt between Anthony Pettis and Rafael dos Anjos. Hendricks was expected to lock horns with reigning welterweight champion Robbie Lawler for a third time at a later date, but apparently plans have changed.

Brown had a seven-fight winning streak halted in July, when he dropped a five-round verdict against Lawler at UFC on Fox 12. “The Immortal” has finished 17 of his 19 career triumphs inside the distance.

Hendricks is coming off a hotly-contested split decision defeat to Lawler at UFC 181 on Dec. 6. “Bigg Rigg” captured the vacant 170-pound strap with a unanimous decision over “Ruthless” at UFC 171.