Emerging UFC star Jack Della Maddalena has challenged Sean Brady to fight him in Sydney later this year after the world No.8 welterweight withdrew from Sunday's fight in Las Vegas due to medical reasons.
Della Maddalena, currently ranked 14th in the welterweight division, had the chance to jump into the top 10 with victory over Brady in Las Vegas.
But Brady pulled out of the fight last week after contracting Streptococcus B in his left elbow.
Della Maddalena will now fight UFC debutant Josiah Harrell, whose fight went viral last month after he slammed an opponent through the cage door in a Legacy Fighting Alliance 160 bout.
The late switch means Della Maddalena will effectively be treading water even if he posts an impressive win over Harrell.
But the West Australian is hopeful he will be able to fight Brady at UFC 293 in Sydney on September 10.
"Hopefully it's just a small little speed bump and we can get the Brady fight going in September in Sydney," Della Maddalena told AAP.
"If he's well, I think he owes me the trip.
"I made it this way (to Las Vegas) for the fight, maybe this time he can make the trip down under, and we just delay the fight 10 weeks.
"I did see he said he'd see me down the line soon, so I'm guessing that's what that means."
Della Maddalena will hold a significant height and reach advantage over Harrell, who is about 10cm shorter and fights at both lightweight and welterweight.
Vision of Harrell slamming an opponent into, and then through, a cage door went viral last month, and even caught the attention of Della Maddalena.
"I'd never heard of Josiah before but a couple of weeks ago I did remember seeing that," Della Maddalena said.
"It's a crazy turn of events for that to happen in a fight.
"I just thought, 'wow, that's very unusual, who is the idiot who forgot to lock the cage door?'
"I've watched his last two fights. We have an idea of what to expect.
"He's going to come in there with nothing to lose and he's going to come at me."
Della Maddalena has made a stunning start to his UFC career by posting four first-round victories, including three by knockout.
The 26-year-old is confident that hot streak will continue on Sunday.
"I'm determined. I think this is a fight where I can take him out in the first round," Della Maddalena said.
"I think I'm going to take him out in the first five minutes."
