Werdum to face Harris after Lewis pulls out moments before UFC 216

UFC 216 just underwent a big change - in every sense of the phrase.

A lingering back injury has rendered Derrick Lewis unable to face Fabricio Werdum in a heavyweight bout on Saturday's main card in Las Vegas, the promotion announced on the bill's Fight Pass prelims. As a result, Walt Harris - who'd been scheduled to take on Mark Godbeer on the card - has agreed to face the former champion on just three hours' notice.

Lewis is saddled with two bulging discs and pain akin to what he'd felt heading into his June bout with Mark Hunt, MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani reports. He "couldn't move" as of Saturday morning after trying to fight through the injury this week.

The fight would have seen both Lewis and Werdum vie for a much-needed win after falling to Hunt and Alistair Overeem, respectively, in their most recent outings.