Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
UFC Auckland has lost a light heavyweight fight between Tyson Pedro and Vinicius Moreira.
UFC light heavyweight Tyson Pedro will have to wait a little longer before stepping back into the Octagon. An injury has forced him out of his planned bout against Vinicius Moreira at UFC Auckland next month.
In a statement released on Instagram, Pedro revealed that he has had to pull out of the upcoming fight card. The light heavyweight didn’t disclose the injury that led to him withdrawing from the fight—although the accompanying photo appears to show his right leg elevated and wrapped.
“Just when you think everything is going to your plan something hits you upside the head with a different one,” Pedro wrote. “Out of the fight in Feb, I’m gutted but thank you for all the messages.”
The UFC is yet to reveal whether a replacement will fill in for Pedro, or if Moreira will be pulled from the card instead.
Pedro (7-3) was hoping to get back in the win column at UFC Auckland after losing his last two fights. He was finished in the third round by Shogun Rua at UFC Adelaide back in December 2018, and lost by submission to Ovince Saint Preux in June 2018. The 28-year-old is without a win in almost two years.
UFC Auckland takes place at the Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand on February 23rd. The card is expected to be headlined by a lightweight fight between Dan Hooker and Paul Felder.