Vanessa Melo replaces Duda Santana, meets Sarah Alpar at UFC Oklahoma City
Brazilian bantamweight Vanessa Melo is once again stepping in as a replacement in the UFC. | Jason Da Silva-USA TODAY Sports
Vanessa Melo is once again replacing Duda Santana in the UFC, this time against Sarah Alpar at UFC Oklahoma City on May 2. Both fighters confirmed the change on social media following a report by Combate.
Melo (10-7), who replaced Santana the first time in November, taking on Tracy Cortez in Sao Paulo, still looks for her first win in the Octagon after losing a pair of decisions in 2019. Melo also stepped in as a replacement in her debut, when she supplanted Marion Reneau against Irene Aldana last September.
The Brazilian beat five opponents in 10 months to earn a deal with the UFC in 2019, capped off by a decision victory over veteran Jan Finney.
Alpar (9-4), a former LFA bantamweight champion, makes her first walk to the UFC cage after tapping Shanna Young with a second-round rear-naked choke at Dana White’s Contender Series in August. The 28-year-old talent is riding a three-fight winning streak with a pair of stoppages.
The UFC has yet to announce the headlining attraction for the company’s upcoming trip to Oklahoma City’s Chesapeake Energy Arena in May. The Fight Night card currently includes a clash of Brazilian strawweights Claudia Gadelha and Marina Rodriguez.