A UFC 210 bout has been cancelled at the last minute because New York doesn’t allow breast implants.
A bout from UFC 210 has been reportedly cancelled at the very last minute by the New York State Athletic Commission. Strawweights Cynthia Calvillo vs. Pearl Gonzalez was supposed to happen on the pay-per-view portion of the card, but after the official weigh ins, the NYSAC scrapped Gonzalez from bout.
The reason? They do not allow breast implants.
I’m told the Calvillo-Gonzalez has been canceled. Per NYSAC, female fighters are not allowed to have implants, thus ruling out Gonzalez.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 7, 2017
Although they technically just mention “boxers”, NYSAC documents (HT: Dimspace) show the official rule and reasoning for the ban:
“BREAST IMPLANTS: Due to the concern over rupture, boxers who have breast implants are not eligible to box in New York. Boxers who have had breast reduction surgeries are eligible to box.”
Numerous female MMA fighters with implants have competed in other states such as Nevada and California without any issues. Regardless of what you think of the rule though, the timing is also an issue in all of this.
Gonzalez obviously didn’t just had those done this week, so it is unclear why it took until after the weigh ins before she was told she wasn’t allowed to compete in the state.
Both camps are reportedly trying to have the decision overturned, but as of this writing, the bout is unfortunately still off the card.