TLDR
- Jose Ochoa withdrew from UFC 330 due to injury, forcing a late opponent change
- Eduardo Chapolin accepted the fight against Charles Johnson on just four days’ notice
- Chapolin is 15-2 and won on Dana White’s Contender Series but wasn’t offered a contract
- Johnson will become the UFC’s most active fighter with his August 15 appearance
- UFC 330 takes place Saturday in Philadelphia with Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Machado Garry headlining
Sources: sports.yahoo.com | mmafighting.com | yardbarker.com
Charles Johnson will face a new opponent at UFC 330 this Saturday after Jose Ochoa withdrew from their scheduled flyweight bout due to an injury. The UFC quickly found a replacement in Eduardo Chapolin, who accepted the fight on just four days’ notice.
The change was confirmed on the official UFC event page Wednesday. Johnson announced the switch on his social media accounts.
Contender Series Winner Gets the Call
Chapolin brings a 15-2 professional record into his UFC debut. The Brazilian last fought in November 2025, when he defeated An Tuan Ho by decision at Dana White’s Contender Series.
Despite winning that fight, Chapolin was not offered a UFC contract at the time. He also competed on season 33 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2025.
The 30-year-old is a former LFA flyweight champion. He now gets his chance to join the UFC roster with a short-notice performance in Philadelphia.
Johnson confirmed the opponent change on social media. “System update: new opponent detected,” the 35-year-old posted. “Eduardo Henrique. No restart needed.”
Some reports have referred to Chapolin by his full name Eduardo Henrique or his nickname “Chapolin.”
Man Eduardo Chapolin is a monster at FLW. 👹👹👹 #DWCS pic.twitter.com/4Iy4ZLgbbT
— 𝓚𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓕𝓲𝓰𝓰𝔂 👹🩸 (@ChampFiggy) September 1, 2025
Johnson Among UFC’s Most Active Fighters
Johnson holds a 19-9 professional record. With his upcoming appearance on August 15, he will become the most active fighter in the UFC.
The veteran averages one bout every 98 days. Johnson has already fought three times in 2026.
His 2026 campaign includes a win over Bruno Silva. That victory came between losses to Asu Almabayev and Alex Perez.
The nature of Ochoa’s injury has not been disclosed by the UFC. Officials have not confirmed whether the replacement bout will remain on the main card or move to the preliminary card.
UFC 330 proceeds with 12 bouts total. The event takes place August 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
The card features two championship fights. Islam Makhachev defends his lightweight title against Ian Machado Garry in the main event.
Mackenzie Dern faces Gillian Robertson in the other title bout on the card. The promotion moved quickly to preserve Johnson’s spot on the event after Ochoa’s withdrawal.
Chapolin will need to make weight and pass all required medical testing before the fight becomes official. UFC officials typically require fighters to undergo additional screening when accepting bouts on short notice.
For Johnson, the opponent change represents another challenge in what has already been a busy year. The flyweight veteran has shown willingness to fight frequently and accept any opponent the UFC offers.
Chapolin gets his opportunity to prove he belongs on the UFC roster. A victory over an experienced fighter like Johnson on short notice could earn him the contract that eluded him after his Contender Series win.
