Randy Costa withdraws from UFC 259; Trevin Jones needs new opponent

One of the bantamweight division’s rising prospects will have to wait a little bit longer for his fourth UFC appearance.

In a statement posted on Twitter, Randy Costa announced his withdrawal Monday from UFC 259 due to an undisclosed injury. Costa (6-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) was supposed to fight Trevin Jones on the preliminary card of the March 6 event.

The UFC is currently seeking a replacement opponent to fight Jones (13-6 MMA, 1-0 UFC).

Costa, 26, didn’t specify his injury, though he said it’s nagged him for weeks before a flare-up caused him to pull out of the fight. He will undergo physical therapy as he plans for a May return.

UFC 259 takes place Saturday, March 6 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.

With the change, the UFC 259 lineup now includes:

• Jan Blachowicz vs. Israel Adesanya – for light heavyweight title

• Amanda Nunes vs. Megan Anderson – for women’s featherweight title

• Petr Yan vs. Aljamain Sterling – for bantamweight title

• Aleksandar Rakic vs. Thiago Santos

• Drew Dober vs. Islam Makhachev

• Dominick Cruz vs. Casey Kenney

• Kyler Phillips vs. Song Yadong

• Askar Askarov vs. Joseph Benavidez

• Amanda Lemos vs. Livinha Souza

• Sean Brady vs. Jake Matthews

• Trevin Jones vs. TBA

• Aalon Cruz vs. Uros Medic

• Tim Elliott vs. Jordan Espinosa

• Rogerio Bontorin vs. Kai Kara-France

• Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Carlos Ulberg