UFC lightweight contender Tony Ferguson is out of his scheduled main event showdown vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov due to injury, which has forced the UFC to name a new headliner for UFC on FOX 19.
The UFC has lost its 2nd April main event in less than a week.
April 16th’s UFC on FOX 19 headliner between Tony Ferguson (20-3) and Khabib Nurmagomedov (22-0) has been scrapped, as Ferguson has pulled out with an injury. FOXSports.com’s Damon Martin reported the news on Tuesday afternoon. It’s the 2nd time that this fight has been called off, with the original December 2015 booking going by the wayside when Nurmagomedov suffered a rib injury. According to Ferguson, he has fluid and blood in his lung.
Usually I can Power thru small Bumps & Bruises. Doc Said I have Fluid/Blood in my Lung #UFCTampa I Will Heal Up. I Will be Back.#TeamElCucuy
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) April 5, 2016
With Ferguson vs. Nurmagomedov off, the co-main event of Rashad Evans vs. Glover Teixeira (which was originally Evans vs. Mauricio Rua) has been elevated to main event status and is now a scheduled five-rounder.
While the original FOX Sports report says that Nurmagomedov has been removed from the event altogether, ESPN’s Brett Okamoto and MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani both were told that there’s a chance that Khabib could remain on the card but would instead be in a three-round fight. (UPDATED: FOX Sports article has now been changed to note that Khabib isn’t off the card yet)
This marks the first time that Ferguson has ever withdrawn from a UFC event due to injury. “El Cucuy” has won his last 7 fights, including a thrilling d’arce choke win over Edson Barboza at the TUF 22 Finale. Meanwhile, should the oft-injured Nurmagomedov not receive a new opponent on extremely short notice, it will be more than 2 years since his last appearance inside the Octagon, a unanimous decision win over current LW champion Rafael dos Anjos.
UFC on FOX 19 takes place at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.