The upcoming UFC 288 event has faced a setback with news of the loss of one of its main card bouts. It has been confirmed by several reliable sources within the MMA community that Jonathan Pearce has withdrawn from his scheduled featherweight matchup against Bryce Mitchell due to an undisclosed injury.

MMA Fighting has learned from a credible insider that the UFC is working hard to find a new opponent for Mitchell for the May 6 pay-per-view event in Newark, New Jersey, nothing has been finalized yet.

This injury is an unfortunate turn of events for Pearce, as he was gearing up for what was his biggest fight yet. The fighter, also known as “JSP,” has won an impressive five straight fights leading up to this moment, with stoppage victories over Kai Kamaka III, Omar Morales, and Makwan Amirkhani.

He has also earned decision wins over Christian Rodriguez and Darren Elkins. Mitchell, on the other hand, is looking for redemption after suffering his first pro loss in December 2021, in UFC 282, where he was defeated by Ilia Topuria in the second round. This loss ended a 15-fight win streak for the fighter known as “Thug Nasty.”

The UFC promotion is undoubtedly working hard to ensure that they can provide a suitable replacement for Pearce to fight against Mitchell. This unfortunate situation will likely inspire fans to wait with bated breath as the new lineup for the event is revealed. The fight is undoubtedly not one to miss, and fans can expect another thrilling UFC event on May 6.