Luke Sanders vs. Felipe Colares now set for UFC Vegas 25 after original opponents pulled

Luke Sanders' most recent UFC win was a knockout over former champion Renan Barao. | Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

Damon Jackson and Journey Newson are out of UFC Vegas 25, which goes down May 1 in Las Vegas, and the promotion has decided to pair up their original opponents Luke Sanders and Felipe Colares in a featherweight bout.

Both fighters confirmed the switch on social media following a report from Tudo Sobre MMA.

Newson was forced off the card due to a knee injury, he told MMA Fighting. Colares, who was originally scheduled to face Newson in a bantamweight match, plans on returning to the 135-pound division for his next bouts, he said.

The Fight Night card will take place at the UFC APEX and feature light heavyweights Dominick Reyes and Jiri Prochazka in the main event.

Sanders (13-4) returns six months after a second-round submission defeat to Nate Maness in a 140-pound catchweight bout nearly two years after his prior UFC fight, a knockout win over former UFC champion Renan Barao.

The former RFA bantamweight titleholder makes his first appearance as a featherweight after going 3-4 in his first seven octagon appearances.

Colares (9-2), who held the Jungle Fight featherweight belt before joining the UFC in 2019, lost his octagon debut to Geraldo de Freitas at 145 pounds before moving down to bantamweight to earn a split decision over Domingo Pilarte. Colares lost a decision to Montel Jackson in his most recent fight in January 2020.

“Cabocao” was expected to re-enter the eight-sided cage this past November but was forced out of a fight with Gustavo Lopez after testing positive for COVID-19.