Ashlee Evans-Smith (photo via cfafights.com)

By FCF Staff

As a result of Holly Holm’s withdrawal from UFC 181, the promotion has confirmed that Ashlee Evans-Smith will replace the injured fighter versus Raquel Pennington.

Holm was scheduled to make her Octagon debut on January 3rd, but has been forced to postpone her next fight bout, due to a reported neck injury. Evans-Smith joins the promotion having gone 3-0 in professional MMA action to date, and is coming off a stoppage win over Marciea Allen at WSOF 10 in June.

Pennington (4-4) is looking to rebound from a split decision loss she suffered versus Jessica Andrade at UFC 171, after she decisioned Roxanne Modafferi last November.

UFC 181 will be hosted by the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, and will feature light-heavyweight champ Jon Jones taking on Daniel Cormier in the headliner.