INJURY OKTAGON 96: Kevin Pastran replaces Jessin Ayari against Ion Surdu in Munich

A welterweight fight that was meant to push Jessin Ayari toward a title shot has been rewritten days before OKTAGON 96. Ayari is out against Ion Surdu, and Venezuela's Kevin Pastran has taken the fight on short notice. The card is set for Oct 31 in Munich.

The change matters because of what Munich is expected to settle. OKTAGON will name a new holder of its vacant welterweight title there, and Ayari had hoped a win over Surdu would place him among the leading contenders for the next title fight. That plan now depends on who is across from Surdu, and Ayari is no longer part of it. No reason for his withdrawal has been given.

Ayari is a 34-year-old German with an 18-6 record and a UFC past that includes a fight with Darren Till. He has been perfect in OKTAGON so far, beating Christian Stahl by TKO on debut and then forcing Niklas Stolze to tap with a rear-naked choke. He is also one of four fighters to have beaten Kerim Engizek.

Pastran arrives as the interim FFC welterweight champion. He is 15-4 across 19 pro fights, according to MMA Fanatik Slovakia, and has finished six opponents by knockout. This is his entry to the European stage, and he gets it with far less preparation time than a normal camp allows.

The risk is clear, but so is the opportunity. Surdu is a former champion, and beating him would give Pastran a valuable win in his first OKTAGON appearance. Watch how Pastran handles the short camp, and whether a strong showing in Munich earns him a place in the welterweight title picture.