Jairzinho Rozenstruik will step in to face Alistair Overeem in the scheduled UFC Washington headliner Dec. 7, replacing heavyweight Walt Harris, UFC president Dana White told ESPN.
Harris' manager, Jason House, told ESPN Friday that Harris pulled out of the fight as the search continues for his stepdaughter Aniah Blanchard, 19, who has been missing since Oct. 24.
Rozenstruik just competed this past weekend at UFC 244 in New York, where he stopped Andrei Arlovski at :29 of the first round.
Harris recently alerted the public of Blanchard's status via social media, and the MMA community has chipped in on the effort to find her. White and UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones have each pledged $25,000 to the reward fund for information about those involved in her disappearance.
Police in Auburn, Alabama, said Thursday that they now believe Blanchard, a student at Southern Union State Community College, is a victim of foul play.