LAS VEGAS – When Kris Moutinho threw his name in the hat to fight Sean O’Malley , he wasn’t too hopeful he’d get it. After Louis Smolka was forced to withdraw from his UFC 264 fight against O’Malley, a horde of fighters in and out of the UFC offered to step in and replace him, including the likes of UFC bantamweights Ricky Simon, Brian Kelleher, Merab Dvalishvili and Cody Stamann. But it was newcomer Moutinho (9-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) who got the call, and he explained how it happened. “It was a surprise to me, as well,” Moutinho told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at Wednesday’s media session at the UFC Apex. “I’m just as thrown for a loop as you guys, so it’s crazy. I love it
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Kris Moutinho says call to fight Sean O’Malley at UFC 264 came as a surprise – MMA Junkie