Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Perry wants to face Khamzat Chimaev now that Lawler is out.
Mike Perry needs a new opponent next month.
“Platinum” revealed on Twitter that Robbie Lawler withdrew from their scheduled UFC 255 clash. His replacement suggestion is welterweight contender Khamzat Chimaev, who is expected to face Leon Edwards in a main event on December 19th.
So @Ruthless_RL pulled out due to an injury. Looking for a replacement I asked for @KChimaev and we can do it at middleweight @ufc @FirstRoundMgmt
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) October 28, 2020
ESPN later confirmed that Lawler is off the card, leaving the former welterweight champion likely done until 2021. He’s on a four-fight losing streak and hasn’t had his hand raised since a close decision over Donald Cerrone in 2017. It is unknown what injury/injuries Lawler suffered that led to his removal from the card.
Perry (14-6) snapped his two-fight losing skid with a much-needed decision win over Mickey Gall in June. Known as an action fighter, Perry has won two Fight of the Night and two Performance of the Night bonuses. He’s been in the news more recently for serious and negative reasons, having been accused of domestic violence by his ex-wife, as well as arrested for punching a man at a Texas bar.
UFC 255 takes place on November 21st and features title fights in both the men’s and women’s flyweight division. The men’s title bout headlines the card, with Deiveson Figueredo defending his belt for the first time against Alex Perez, while women’s champion Valentina Shevchenko faces off against Jennifer Maia.