Jacobe Smith reportedly to replace injured Carlos Leal against Randy Brown

Unbeaten welterweight Jacobe Smith would face Randy Brown on less than two weeks' notice in the co-main event of the UFC's 31 October card in Las Vegas, according to Marcel Dorff. The UFC has not confirmed the change.

Jacobe Smith will step in against Randy Brown in the co-main event of the UFC Fight Night at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas on 31 October, according to Marcel Dorff, after Carlos Leal withdrew with an injury. The UFC had not officially confirmed the replacement.

The booking would bring Smith back quickly. The 13-0 welterweight stopped Bruce Whitehead in the first round at UFC 332 on 3 October, so he would be fighting on less than two weeks' notice and about four weeks after that win. Brown, 20-8, has lost his last two fights, to Gabriel Bonfim and Kevin Holland. The nature of Leal's injury has not been disclosed.

The card has had other changes. Azamat Bekoev is out of his middleweight fight with Andre Petroski for medical reasons, and Mantas Kondratavicius is reportedly taking his place. Francis Marshall's fight with Gaston Bolanos is off, and Marshall is now listed against Dakota Hope.

Renato Moicano and Tom Nolan headline over five rounds at lightweight. Moicano was due to meet Brian Ortega in a rematch at UFC 331 until Ortega pulled out, and the UFC moved him to this event.

Nolan, 11-1 and on a five-fight winning streak, is headlining a UFC card for the first time. The UFC ranked him No 11 at lightweight when it announced the fight. He called for the Moicano fight after beating Fares Ziam on points in June, and said of the Brazilian: “I think he’s awesome.” Moicano, 37, is 21-7-1 and will be headlining for the fourth time in the UFC. He submitted Chris Duncan in the second round in April, ending a run of two straight defeats.

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