Sean O’Connell is set to make his UFC debut, as he has replaced Steve Bosse at the TUF Nations Finale. A shoulder injury forced Bosse out of his bout with Canadian Ryan Jimmo.
O’Connell was slated to fight Victor Valimaki at MFC 40 on May 9, however a source told Sportsnet that O’Connell’s management team bought out his MFC contract in order to take a fight against Jimmo in the UFC. The MFC will name a replacement for O’Connell in the near future.
The 30-year-old was also supposed to fight Valimaki at MFC 39, but an injury forced Valimaki to withdraw. O’Connell took on Markhaile Wedderburn instead, whom he submitted within two minutes of the first round.
O’Connell (15-4) is on a six-fight win streak, which included a strong stint in the Utah-based Showdown Fights.
Jimmo (18-3) has lost two of his last three bouts. In 21 career bouts, Jimmo has fought in Canada 19 times, but this will only be his second fight in Quebec.
The TUF Nations takes place April 16 at the Colisée Pepsi in Quebec City.
Here is a look at the fight card to date:
— Michael Bisping vs. Tim Kennedy
— Patrick Cote vs. Kyle Noke
— TUF Nations middleweight final
— TUF Nations welterweight final
— Mark Bocek vs. Evan Dunham
— Shayna Baszler vs. Sarah Kaufman
— K.J. Noons vs. Sam Stout
— Akira Corassani vs. Dustin Poirier
— Mitch Gagnon vs. Tim Gorman
— Dustin Kimura vs. George Roop
— Ryan Jimmo vs. Sean O’Connell
