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Francis Marshall Draws New Opponent for UFC Halloween Event

Francis Marshall will face a new opponent at UFC Vegas 123 on October 31 after Gastón Bolaños withdrew due to an eyebrow cut suffered during training. The UFC has named Dakota Hope as the replacement for the featherweight bout.

Marshall, who secured his UFC contract in 2022 after defeating Connor Matthews on the Contender Series, has been on a resurgence this year. He recently submitted Erik Silva in the first round and won a unanimous decision against Lucas Brennan at lightweight, marking his first fight outside the featherweight division.

Hope, a 29-year-old American with a regional title background, is making his sophomore UFC appearance after a split decision loss to Kai Kamaka III earlier this year. Neither fighter holds a current ranking in the featherweight division, but Marshall enters with a two-fight winning streak, while Hope seeks his first UFC victory.

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