Overview
- Reports first published on Thursday said Brady pulled out of the Nov. 7 headliner at the Meta APEX, leaving Gabriel Bonfim without an opponent.
- Brady told listeners on his podcast that a staph infection in his knee left him unable to walk and required repeated drainage, making next-week competition impossible.
- The UFC initially looked for a short-notice replacement for Bonfim but instead booked a heavyweight main event of Waldo Cortes‑Acosta vs. Johnny Walker to fill the slot.
- It remains unclear whether Bonfim will stay on the Nov. 7 card or be rebooked later, and officials have not confirmed if the replacement bout will be scheduled for three or five rounds.
- Late changes like this are common at the Apex and the swap reshuffles short-term ranking paths and schedules for Brady, Bonfim and the replacement fighters as the promotion stabilizes the card.