This is the second time Penne vs. Esquibel has fallen apart, but at least Esquibel gets to stay on the card this time.
A card change has hit UFC Sunrise once again.
This time it’s UFC strawweight Jessica Penne who’s been struck from the card, as confirmed by MMA Junkie. No reason has been given for her removal at this point. Stepping in to face Jodie Esquibel is Penne’s teammate and video podcast partner Angela Hill.
The replacement slot gives Hill a quick turnaround following a first round submission loss to crafty Canadian Randa Markos. It’s Hill’s second loss in a row as the former Invicta champ continues to struggle in the UFC, going 2-4 since returning to the big leagues in 2017.
ARMBAR!
First finish of the night goes to Canada’s @RandaMMA! What a submission! #UFCNashville pic.twitter.com/mldBC3OhYp
— UFC (@ufc) March 23, 2019
As for Penne, this is just absolute crap news for her. She’s on a three fight skid and hasn’t fought since April of 2017 after USADA discovered a synthetic anabolic agent in her test and suspended her for 18 months. This fight against Esquibel was supposed to go down at UFC on ESPN 1 in February, but Penne missed weight and then blew out her ankle, scuttling the fight. Now the re-booking has fallen apart as well, with Esquibel moving on to Hill.
Esquibel is looking to land her first UFC win after going 0-2 against Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Jessica Aguilar. She hasn’t stepped inside the cage since July of 2018.
UFC Sunrise was originally set to air on ESPN, but has since been switched to ESPN+ after the main event went from Yoel Romero vs. Paulo Costa to Yoel Romero vs. “Jacare” Souza to “Jacare” Souza vs. Jack Hermansson.