Donald Cerrone has been removed from his lightweight bout with Joe Lauzon later tonight (Sat., May 7, 2022) at UFC 274 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
Per the UFC 274 broadcast (shown below), Cerrone came down with an illness un-related to COVID-19. UFC color commentator Joe Rogan stated that officials believe “Cowboy” ate something that has left him throwing up and unable to keep anything else down. UFC will look re-book his matchup with Lauzon for a later event.
Announced on the broadcast, Donald Cerrone is out of his #UFC274 fight with Joe Lauzon with a non-COVID related illness. pic.twitter.com/ZKxAO4hBJX
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) May 7, 2022
While the top of the UFC 274 PPV main card remains as stacked as possible the loss of Cerrone is certainly a big blow. Cerrone was excited to fight in front of his son and battle Lauzon in what he called a “legacy fight.” The loser of the lightweight matchup was expected to get their UFC walking papers, but now fight fans will have to wait a little longer for Cerrone, and Lauzon, to step back inside of the Octagon.
With the last-second cancelation, a welterweight clash between Randy Brown and Khaos Williams has been moved from the ESPN “Prelims” to the PPV main card.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 274 fight card right HERE, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 5:30 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
For more news and notes on UFC 274 be sure to visit our comprehensive event archive right here. For the updated, revised, and finalized “Oliveira vs. Gaethje” fight card and ESPN+ PPV lineup click here.