Takanori Gomi replaces Danny Castillo, meets Isaac Vallie-Flagg at UFC 172
Isaac Vallie-Flagg has a new – but very well known – opponent for next month’s UFC 172 event.
UFC officials today announced Japanese veteran Takanori Gomi (34-9 MMA, 3-4 UFC) has replaced lightweight Danny Castillo (16-6 MMA, 6-3 UFC) and meets Vallie-Flagg (14-4-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) at the event.
Castillo, though, will remain on the card and awaits a new opponent.
UFC 172 takes place April 26 at Baltimore Arena in Maryland. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.
Gomi vs. Vallie-Flagg will likely be part of the prelims.
Gomi, who fights for the first time in 14 months, had a rough start to his UFC career, but the former PRIDE champion rebounded with wins over Eiji Mitsuoka and Mac Danzig (in a “Fight of the Night†performance). However, in his most recent outing, he suffered a contentious split-decision defeat to Diego Sanchez at UFC on FUEL TV 8.
Vallie-Flagg, meanwhile, also recently had some momentum halted by a loss. The Strikeforce vet was on an 11-0-1 run that included a UFC-debut split-decision victory over Yves Edwards, but he suffered a decision defeat to Elias Silverio at UFC Fight Night 35 in January.
The latest UFC 172 card now includes:
Champ Jon Jones vs. Glover Teixeira – for light-heavyweight title
Phil Davis vs. Anthony Johnson
Jake Ellenberger vs. Tarec Saffiedine
Tim Boetsch vs. Luke Rockhold
Joseph Benavidez vs. Timothy Elliott
Bobby Green vs. Jim Miller
Joe Ellenberger vs. Yancy Medeiros
Takanori Gomi vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg
Danny Castillo vs. opponent TBA
Andre Fili vs. Max Holloway
Bethe Correia vs. Jessamyn Duke
