UFC Vegas 114 has its first notable shake-up ahead of the March 14 date, with L. Kavanagh out of the bout and veteran flyweight Charles Johnson stepping in to face Bruno Silva. The update was first reported by Laerte Viana, and it adds a well-known name—and a really specific type of pace—to a matchup that suddenly looks harder to predict on paper.
L.Kavanagh out. Charles Johnson in, will fight Bruno Silva at #UFCVegas114 on March 14th. (first rep. @laertevianamma) #UFC #MMA #UFCParamount #UFConParamount #UFC2026 pic.twitter.com/1UVhoNbRrw
— Marcel Dorff 🇳🇱🇮🇩 (@BigMarcel24) February 4, 2026
Johnson has built his UFC run on volume and urgency. Whether he’s banking rounds with long mixtures or dragging opponents into high-tempo exchanges, he’s typically at his best when the fight gets busy and messy. That matters here, because late replacements don’t just change the name on the bout agreement—they modify the rhythm of the preparation. A fighter expecting one look in camp often gets a very different problem on fight week.
For Silva, the project comes with a transparent warning label. If he gives Johnson time to settle into his jab-and-volume game, the fight can quickly turn right into a points battle fought at Johnson’s preferred speed. If Silva can disrupt that pace early—by forcing respect within the pocket, attacking the body, or finding timely counters—he could make Johnson pay for stepping in on short notice. Either way, the matchup now reads like a classic clash between pressure and composure, and it should produce a clean answer about who can impose their style first.
The broader card stays in flux from this update alone, but this substitute is the sort that may elevate a fight from “solid booking” to “can’t-miss for the division,” just because Johnson rarely has quiet outings.
Updated UFC Vegas 114 fight card
- Josh Emmett vs. Kevin Vallejos
- Amanda Lemos vs. Gillian Robertson
- Luan Lacerda vs. Rinya Nakamura
- Eryk Anders vs. Brad Tavares
- Bia Mesquita vs. Montserrat Rendon
- Elijah Smith vs. SuYoung You
- Ion Cutelaba vs. Oumar Sy
- Chris Curtis vs. Myktybek Orolbai
- Harry Hardwick vs. Marwan Rahiki
- Steven Asplund vs. Vitor Petrino
- Charles Johnson vs. Bruno Silva