Former UFC champion Nicco Montaño is forced out of her fight with Karol Rosa.
According to MMA Fighting former UFC flyweight champion Nicco Montaño has been pulled from a fight with Karol Rosa that had been scheduled for UFC Vegas 18 on February 6. The UFC has picked Joselyne Edwards to replace Montaño and fight Rosa on that date.
Montaño (4-2) was reportedly pulled from the fight on the recommendation of a neurologist during a pre-fight medical. The reason for concern was that 32-year-old was still dealing with injuries she suffered during a recent car accident.
Apparently Montaño, who was rear ended by another driver in that accident, is still have suffering the affects of concussion, particularly when it comes to eye-tracking. Montaño will need to wait 12 weeks before she will be cleared to fight again.
Since she fought Julianna Peña at UFC on ESPN+ 13 in July 2019 Montaño has seen five fight cancellations.
She had been booked to fight Macy Chiasson as UFC on ESPN+ 25 in February 2020, but withdrew due to injury. Montaño was then booked to face Julia Avila at a UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Oleinik on August 8 2020. That fight was then rescheduled to UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Sakai on September 5 after Montaño’s coach tested positive for COVID-19.
Montaño ended up withdrawing from that re-scheduled fight after she tested positive for COVID-19. She was again booked to face Avila, this time at UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Aldana on October 3. That bout was set for Fight Island in Abu Dhabi. Montaño ended up having to withdraw from that contest, too, this time due to travel restrictions.
Montaño entered the through The Ultimate Fighter 26. She won that show and, with it, the promotion’s inaugural women’s flyweight title. After taking that belt, with a win over Roxanne Modafferi on December 1, 2017, Montaño was booked to defend her title against Valentina Shevchenko.
However, on the eve of that fight Montaño was hospitalized during her weight cut. She was stripped of her title soon after. Montaño then served a 6 month suspension from USADA after testing positive for ostarine (a substance that has been the subject of a number of tainted supplement cases).