Injury has forced Team Alpha Male lightweight Josh Emmett out of a planned UFC on FOX 21 bout with Jeremy Kennedy.

With just one week until the contest, making it difficult – if not impossible – to secure a work visa in time, the promotion is seeking a Canadian-based replacement opponent.

MMAjunkie today confirmed Emmett’s withdrawal with UFC officials.

The 31-year-old Emmett (10-0 MMA 1-0 UFC) had hoped to build on the success of his May promotional debut, when he scored a split-decision victory over Jon Tuck (while suffering a nasty finger injury). The nature of the injury that forced him out of UFC on FOX 21 wasn’t immediately revealed, and a timetable for his return was not established.

Meanwhile, Kennedy (8-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is a highly touted 23-year-old Canadian prospect who moves up from featherweight for his UFC debut. He fought most recently in May and scored a decision victory over Drew Brokenshire. Kennedy has five stoppages in eight career wins.

With the change to the card, UFC on FOX 21 now includes:

MAIN CARD (FOX, 8 p.m. ET)

Carlos Condit vs. Demian Maia

Charles Oliveira vs. Anthony Pettis

Bec Rawlings vs. Paige VanZant

Joe Lauzon vs. Jim Miller

PRELIMINARY CARD (FOX, 6 p.m. ET)

Sam Alvey vs. Kevin Casey

Thibault Gouti vs. Chad Laprise

Enrique Barzola vs. Kyle Bochniak

Shane Campbell vs. Felipe Silva

PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass, 4 p.m. ET)

Jeremy Kennedy vs. opponent TBA

Alessio Di Chirico vs. Garreth McLellan

Ning Guangyou vs. Marlon Vera

Adam Hunter vs. Ryan Janes

For more on UFC on FOX 21, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.