Rani Yahya out, Cody Gibson steps in against Johnny Bedford at UFC Fight Night 44

Rani Yahya has pulled out of his UFC Fight Night 44 bout against Johnny Bedford on June 28th and replacing Yahya in the bout will be Cody Gibson. UFC Fight Night San Antonio

The fight change was announced by UFC officials on Tuesday afternoon.

UFC Fight Night 44 will come from the AT&T Center and will be headlined by Cub Swanson meeting Jeremy Stephens in a scheduled five round featherweight bout.

Bedford (19-10, 1NC) has gone 2-1, 1NC since entering the UFC in 2011 and his fight against Yahya was a rematch of their no contest fight at April’s UFC Fight Night 39. He is winless in his last two fights, after starting his UFC career with back to back victories.

Gibson (11-4) was signed by the UFC earlier this year after he won six straight fights. His debut with the UFC came in February at UFC 170 an he lost a decision against fellow UFC newcomer Aljamain Sterling.

The current UFC Fight Night 44: Swanson vs. Stephens fight card is below.

Cub Swanson (20-5) vs. Jeremy Stephens (23-9)
Kelvin Gastelum (8-0) vs. Nico Musoke (12-2, 1NC)
Carlos Diego Ferreira (9-0) vs. Colton Smith (3-3)
Andy Enz (7-1) vs. Marcelo Guimaraes (8-1-1)
Anthony Hamilton (12-2) vs. Oleksiy Oliynyk (48-9-1)
Johnny Beford (19-10, 1NC) vs. Cody Gibson (11-4)
Andrew Craig (9-2) vs. Cezar Ferreira (7-3)
Clint Hester (10-3) vs. Antonio Brago Neto (9-1, 1NC)
Sean Spencer (11-3) vs. Luiz Dutra (11-3-1)
Myles Jury (14-0) vs. Abel Trujillo (12-5, 1NC)
Joe Ellenberger (14-1) vs. Frank Trevino (12-0)
Ricardo Lamas (13-3) vs. Hacran Dias (21-2-1)
Ryan Benoit (7-3) vs. Ray Borg (6-1)