What happened: Pico remains on the Etihad Arena card and is now lined up against Losene Keita. Allen's withdrawal was tied to rehab from past treatments rather than a new injury, with the remaining time before Oct. 24 not enough to get him ready. The current target is for Allen to return before the end of the year.
Why it matters: The switch keeps Pico active on a card that had already booked him for Abu Dhabi, but it turns a scheduled matchup into a late opponent change. It also interrupts Allen's momentum after his May decision over Melquizael Costa in the UFC Vegas 117 main event. Pico comes in off an April decision win over Patricio Pitbull at UFC 327, his first UFC victory.
By the numbers: Allen is 32. UFC 333 is set for Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena, and Pico's most recent win came by decision over Patricio Pitbull at UFC 327 in April.
What to watch: Watch for formal confirmation of Pico vs. Keita and whether Allen is rebooked before year-end.