Alexandre “Cacareco” Ferreira (18-7) has pulled out of his upcoming UFC bout with Rousimar Palhares according to Fighters Only Magazine, who reported the news on Tuesday afternoon. Both men had been scheduled to meet at the March 3rd UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann event in Louisville, Kentucky.
The source told Fighters Only that Ferreira withdrew over the loss of “friends and family in the floods affecting Brazil currently and is in ‘no condition to train or fight’”.
“Cacareco” must also deal with the fact that he was dismissed from the Chute Boxe gym on Tuesday also. The team founder Rudimar Fedrigo noted that the fighters removal was due to his lack of commitment to the team.
“The athlete has been released from the Chute Boxe team. We wish Cacareco good luck in his career, which still involve the UFC. It was his disinterest for the team and lack of commitment. He made clear that he wants to follow the career with his own path and accordingly, I cannot get to talk to him for days at a time.”
Ferreira made his UFC debut last November after a seven fight win streak. The Brazilian, fighting at light heavyweight, lost to Vladimir Matyushenko at UFC 122 in the first round. After the bout UFC officials convinced the fighter to drop down to middleweight for his next fight.
No word has surfaced at this time from the organization concerning the match, whether a new opponent for Palhares would be found, if the fight would be rescheduled, or if it would be scrapped entirely.