Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
The planned heavyweight main event between Josh Barnett and Ronny Markes tonight (Fri., Dec. 20, 2019) at Bellator 235 from Honolulu, Hawaii, will not go on as planned.
Per Bellator MMA president Scott Coker, Barnett was deemed medically unfit to compete due to “severe illness” by the Hawaiian State Boxing Commission when he arrived at Neal S. Blaisdell Arena. Coker announced the news with the following tweet:
On the advice of the Hawaii State Boxing Commission, tonight’s main event bout between Josh Barnett and Ronny Markes has been cancelled. Barnett has not been cleared tonight due to severe illness.
Toby Misech vs. Erik Perez is the new #BellatorUSO main event.
— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) December 21, 2019
“On the advice of the Hawaii State Boxing Commission, tonight’s main event bout between Josh Barnett and Ronny Markes has been cancelled. Barnett has not been cleared tonight due to severe illness,” Coker wrote.
“Toby Misech vs. Erik Perez is the new #BellatorUSO main event.”
Barnett, 42, was expected to make his Bellator MMA debut in the main event after signing on with the promotion back in April. The former UFC heavyweight champion had high aspirations for his new venture in Bellator but this late scratch is certainly going to set him back.
We’ll have to wait and see what kept Barnett out of competition tonight as his awaited debut gets pushed into the new year.
For complete Bellator 235 results and coverage click here.