UFC light-heavyweight fighter Steve Cantwell (7-3) is out of UFC 120: Bisping vs. Akiyama due to a knee injury suffered during a pre-fight interview less than 48 hours before the event this Saturday.
Cantwell had been scheduled to face Stanislav Nedkov (11-0) on the preliminary card at the O2 Arena in London, England but finds himself forced off the card. UFC officials have reported that there is not enough time to find a replacement and that Nedkov will receive his show money for the fight.
Fighters Only Magazine was first to report the injury.
More bad news for Steve Cantwell. He is off the UFC 120 card less than 48 hours before it is due to start, having ripped a knee ligament in a training session on Thursday night (UK time).
Fighters Only was told on Friday morning that Cantwell has consulted medical staff but is clearly in no condition to compete and has had to be pulled from the bout with UFC debutant Stanislav Nedkov.
Cantwell, a former WEC light-heavyweight champion, was likely fighting for his career with the UFC in the bout versus Nedkov. The fighter had dropped his last two-bouts losing to Brian Stann at UFC Fight Night: Diaz vs. Guillard in Sept. of 2009, and to Luiz Cane at UFC 97 in April of 2009. Both losses were via unanimous decision.