Randy Brown vs Carlos Leal Scrapped

The welterweight bout between Randy Brown and Carlos Leal, which had been slated for Halloween night at the UFC's Meta APEX, is off. According to reports, Leal has withdrawn, though the reason has not been confirmed.

It is a frustrating turn for a matchup that promised plenty of action. Brown, the long-serving fan favourite known for his unorthodox striking, now finds himself without a dance partner roughly four weeks out from fight night, and the promotion has yet to announce a replacement.

The cancellation lands on a card still taking shape. UFC Vegas 123, officially UFC Fight Night 292, is set for October 31 at the Meta APEX, and the Brown-Leal pairing had been added in late September as one of its more intriguing undercard clashes.

Leal's Withdrawal Unexplained

Neither Leal nor his camp has offered specifics about the reported withdrawal, which is not unusual in a sport where fighters tend to guard such details closely. The circumstances behind the pullout remain unclear for now.

That uncertainty makes the withdrawal feel like a setback for a fighter still trying to establish himself inside the promotion. Leal arrived with genuine pedigree, having built his reputation in the PFL before making his Octagon debut in late 2024.

His short UFC résumé, a 2-2 ledger, includes an emphatic first-round stoppage of Alex Morono and a decision win over Chidi Njokuani. For the time being, though, his UFC progress stalls on the sidelines.

Brown's Spot on the Card Now Uncertain

With Leal out, the focus shifts to whether Brown can salvage a date on the card. The 36-year-old Jamaican-American veteran carries a 29-8 professional record, including 14 wins against eight losses inside the UFC, and has split his past six outings.

Brown's calling cards are an enormous 78-inch reach, slick movement and a knack for finishing.

Across his career he has recorded 13 stoppages, split between eight knockouts and five submissions, which keeps him dangerous even in losses such as his recent defeat to Kevin Holland.

No replacement opponent has been named, and the clock is the obvious problem.

Lining up a credible welterweight on four weeks' notice is possible but hardly guaranteed, and a short-notice foe rarely offers the same stylistic appeal as the fight originally booked.