Fresh off his emphatic, one-sided victory over Neil Magny at UFC 190, a lot of people pined Demian Maia’s next fight to come against fellow grappling ace, Gunnar Nelson.
Turns out the UFC wanted to do that fight, too, for UFC Fight Night 76. But that fight is going to have to wait.
On Wednesday it was revealed during UFC Tonight that the Brazilian Maia suffered a nasty staph infection on his left leg, thus forcing him to turn down an offer to face Nelson in on Oct. 24 in Dublin, Ireland. The report also said that the “Wonderboy” Stephen Thompson was a no go a well to face Nelson, as he too is banged up.
According to the report, Iceland’s Nelson, who trains with Conor McGregor and is coming off a first-round submission victory over Brandon Thatch at UFC 189, would like to remain on the Dublin card. The UFC is currently looking for an opponent to face him.
Nelson fought on the last card held in Dublin, back at UFC Fight Night 46 on July 19, 2014, at the then O2 Arena.
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(Photo courtesy of Eduardo Alonso)