Replacement Alexander Yakovlev meets Demian Maia at UFC Fight Night 42

After losing Mike Pierce (17-6 MMA, 9-4 UFC) to a broken hand, Demian Maia (18-6 MMA, 12-6 UFC) apparently has a new opponent for May’s UFC Fight Night 42 event.

Newcomer Alexander Yakovlev (21-4-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who originally was slated to fight Yan Cabral (11-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 40, has stepped in as a replacement. He and his management team today announced the switch via social media.

UFC officials haven’t made a formal announcement, and it’s not clear who will replace Yakovlev at UFC Fight Night 40.

UFC Fight Night 42, meanwhile, takes place May 31 at Sao Paulo’s Ibirapuera Gymnasium. Broadcast/streaming plans haven’t been announced for the card, which also serves as the live finale for “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3.”

MMAjunkie first passed along news of Pierce’s injury on Monday.

Maia returns to the cage after a disappointing loss to Rory MacDonald in February at UFC 170, which brought his welterweight record to 3-2 after dropping from the middleweight class in 2012. The 36-year-old Brazilian has dropped two straight since opening his 170-pound run with three consecutive wins.

Yakovlev, meanwhile, signed with the UFC following a November upset of big-show vet Paul Daley. It marked the 29-year-old M-1 vet’s third straight win. In fact, the Russian and former MMAjunkie “Fight Path” subject is a solid 8-1-1 (with five stoppages) since early 2009.

The latest UFC Fight Night 42 card includes:

• Junior dos Santos vs. Stipe Miocic
• Paulo Thiago vs. Gasan Umalatov
• Demian Maia vs. Alexander Yakovlev
• Rodrigo Damm vs. Rashid Magomedov
• Mark Eddiva vs. Kevin Souza
• Ernest Chavez vs. Elias Silverio

For more on UFC Fight Night 42, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Demian Maia)