Leandro Higo was scheduled to face Matt Manzanares for the vacant RFA flyweight title next Friday night, but Higo was unable to obtain a work visa and Manzanares will now face Junior Maranhão in the main event of RFA 14. 
The fight change was announced by RFA President Ed Soares in a press release on Tuesday.
RFA 14 will come from the City of Cheyenne Ice and Events Center in downtown Cheyenne, Wyoming and will be shown live on AXS TV.
“We tried to expedite the process to get Leandro Higo’s work visa issued, but obtaining work visas has become a much more rigorous process,” stated Soares. “Fortunately, Junior Maranhão already had his paperwork in order and he is eager to make his international debut at RFA 14. Higo will make his RFA debut as soon as his work visa is issued.”
Manzanares (6-2) made his RFA debut in 2012 and is coming off a decision defeat to current UFC flyweight and former Bellator champion Zach Makovsky. The defeat snapped a two fight winning streak and both of the victories were by stoppage.
“It’s unfortunate that I’m not fighting Higo, but I’m here to fight anyone that is put in front of me. That’s my job,” Manzanares explained. “I expect the same result with my hand raised on April 11th.”
Maranhão (9-2) is currently on a six fight winning streak and all of those wins have come by TKO/KO or submission. His last two victories have come by TKO in the second round and his most recent win came in December.
“I don’t know a lot about Matt Manzanares other than he is a tough guy who has fought some really good opponents,” said Maranhão. “It is a dream of mine to fight in the United States. It’s even better that I get to fight for one of the top promotions in the world (RFA) that I have been following.”
The current RFA 14: Manzanares vs. Maranhão fight card is below.
Main Card: (AXS TV – 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT)
Matt Manzanares (6-2) vs. Junior Maranhão (9-2)
Mark Dickman (8-1) vs. Raoni Barcelos (7-0)
Tyler Voth (5-1) vs. Jeimeson Saudino (8-2)
Alan Jouban (7-2) vs. Amando Montoya Jr. (8-3)
Tyler Toner (15-6-1) vs. Daniel Aguiar (9-3)
Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger (2-1) vs. Rosa Acevedo (1-0)
Preliminary Card: (Unaired)
Scott Ingram (1-0) vs. Joshua Smith (0-0)
Sonny Yohn (3-0) vs. Enrique Torress (13-2-1) *
Zach Hare (7-4) vs. Andrew Kauppila (12-4) *
Ralph Carabajal (2-1) vs. Anthony Adams (2-1) *
Joe Guerrero (2-1) vs. George Martinez (1-0) *
* – Amateur Bout