He now faces promotional newcomer Pavel Andrusca, a Moldovan featherweight coming over from UAE Warriors, in a booking multiple sources confirmed. The timing is almost funny given the other Wood story making the rounds: UFC hopeful Aboubakar Younousov claims Wood turned down a fight with him specifically because of his "-ov" surname. Whatever the reason for the original swap, Wood gets a fresh, undefeated test in Andrusca on short notice.
Sources (8)
We summarise the day's news in our own words. Full credit to the outlets below for the original reporting, click through to read their work.
- UFC news: Justin Gaethje responds to potential Conor McGregor fight (Yahoo Sports)
- Song Yadong defends Usman Nurmagomedov after UFC Shanghai: ‘Actually, I understand’ (MMA Mania)
- Muhammad Mokaev answers Dana White's challenge in push for UFC return (Yahoo Sports)
- Jiri Prochazka Teases UFC Fight News (Yahoo Sports)
- UFC hopeful says his ‘-ov’ surname made Nathaniel Wood turn him down (Yahoo Sports)
- 'Protected': UFC hopeful Liam McCracken recounts miraculous rebound after being hit by bus (Yahoo Sports)
- Cris Cyborg to BKFC? David Feldman excited by idea (Yahoo Sports)
- Nathaniel Wood Draws Undefeated Newcomer at UFC Paris (Yahoo Sports)
Split from that day's roundup, so the sources listed are the full set behind the whole edition rather than this story alone.
This story ran in the September 1, 2026 edition of the daily show.