Jimy Hettes sent to hospital with ‘medical issue,’ bout with Diego Brandao scrapped from UFC 183

LAS VEGAS — A bout has fallen off the UFC 183 card at the 11th hour and it wasn’t Kelvin Gastelum vs. Tyron Woodley.

Jimmy Hettes experienced a “medical issue” backstage Saturday afternoon and will not be able to compete here against Diego Brandao, per UFC senior vice president of public relations Dave Sholler. Hettes was ruled out by doctors and commission officials. He was transported to a local hospital for precautionary reasons.

Oddly, it was Brandao who came in four pounds under the featherweight limit of 146 pounds Friday at weigh-ins. Hettes made 146 pounds even.

“He left here alert, cognizant and disappointed,” Sholler said.

Hettes (11-2) was trying to bounce back from a loss to Dennis Bermudez last March at UFC 171. Brandao (18-10) was attempting to do the same after a high-profile knockout loss to Conor McGregor in July.

The Gastelum-Woodley bout was in jeopardy Friday afternoon, too. Gastelum was rushed to the hospital after being unresponsive and vomiting in his hotel room, according to his coach Chance Farrar. Gastelum weighed in nine pounds over, but Woodley agreed to take the fight anyway. The Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) cleared Gastelum.

LAS VEGAS — A bout has fallen off the UFC 183 card at the 11th hour and it wasn’t Kelvin Gastelum vs. Tyron Woodley.

Jimmy Hettes experienced a “medical issue” backstage Saturday afternoon and will not be able to compete here against Diego Brandao, per UFC senior vice president of public relations Dave Sholler. Hettes was ruled out by doctors and commission officials. He was transported to a local hospital for precautionary reasons.

Oddly, it was Brandao who came in four pounds under the featherweight limit of 146 pounds Friday at weigh-ins. Hettes made 146 pounds even.

“He left here alert, cognizant and disappointed,” Sholler said.

Hettes (11-2) was trying to bounce back from a loss to Dennis Bermudez last March at UFC 171. Brandao (18-10) was attempting to do the same after a high-profile knockout loss to Conor McGregor in July.

The Gastelum-Woodley bout was in jeopardy Friday afternoon, too. Gastelum was rushed to the hospital after being unresponsive and vomiting in his hotel room, according to his coach Chance Farrar. Gastelum weighed in nine pounds over, but Woodley agreed to take the fight anyway. The Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) cleared Gastelum.