Anthony Romero Replaces Sopaj vs. McGhee at UFC 332

Marcus McGhee will now face short-notice newcomer Anthony Romero at UFC 332 on Saturday, October 3, 2026, in Salt Lake City, after Bernardo Sopaj withdrew from their scheduled bantamweight bout due to injury.

The promotion announced the change Wednesday, three days before fight night at Delta Center. Romero steps in on just three days' notice, and the bout has been shifted from bantamweight to featherweight for this matchup.

Who Is Anthony Romero, McGhee's Replacement Opponent?

Anthony Romero enters his UFC debut with a 7-2 professional record and one no contest, riding a two-fight winning streak. He most recently competed for the Los Angeles-based Up Next Fighting promotion, where he defended the promotion's bantamweight title with a first-round knockout of Yuma Horiuchi. Romero trains out of Black House MMA in California.

Taking a UFC assignment on three days' notice against a ranked opponent is about as tough a debut as a prospect can draw. It's also the kind of opportunity fighters rarely turn down, since a statement win over a ranked name can fast-track a newcomer's career in a way years of regional wins cannot.

McGhee Looks to Bounce Back Again

Marcus McGhee is the No. 15-ranked bantamweight in the UFC and holds an 11-2 record overall, 5-1 inside the Octagon. He most recently defeated John Yannis by unanimous decision in June, a win that came right after his first UFC loss, a co-main event defeat to bantamweight champion Petr Yan in Abu Dhabi.

Swapping out a returning UFC newcomer in Sopaj for a true short-notice debutant in Romero, and doing it with the fight moved up to featherweight, changes the complexion of this bout considerably. McGhee was the betting favorite against Sopaj, and it's reasonable to expect sportsbooks will again install him as the favorite given his ranking, Octagon experience and the circumstances around Romero's entry. But late replacements on short notice have upset the odds before, and Romero's finishing instincts (four knockouts and two submissions in his seven wins) make him more live underdog than easy out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Marcus McGhee fighting at UFC 332?

Marcus McGhee is now set to fight UFC newcomer Anthony Romero at UFC 332 on October 3, 2026, after Bernardo Sopaj withdrew from the bout due to injury.

Why did Bernardo Sopaj pull out of UFC 332?

Bernardo Sopaj withdrew from his scheduled fight with Marcus McGhee at UFC 332 due to injury, with the announcement coming just three days before the event.

What is Anthony Romero's MMA record?

Anthony Romero enters his UFC debut against Marcus McGhee with a 7-2 professional record and one no contest, having most recently competed for Up Next Fighting.