Looking back on it, UFC 155 was far too stacked to actually happen as intended.
Back when the card was first announced, MMA fans were happily looking forward to a heavyweight title clash, a possible middleweight title eliminator and a more likely lightweight title eliminator.
A few months later, we only have one of those left.
As announced today by UFC president Dana White, Forrest Griffin is out of his fight with Phil Davis due to a knee injury—another damaging blow to a card now distinctly lacking in star power.
Moreover, it’s the third major injury that’s altered the card so far.
Not only did Chris Weidman drop out of his bout with Tim Boetsch on a shoulder injury, but Gray Maynard was also forced to abandon his match with Joe Lauzon due to a bad knee that had been hampering his training for three years.
And just like that, the last mega-stacked blowout UFC event for 2012 has essentially been reduced to a shell of its former self.
So, with just a short 24 days left before the night of the event, the question has to be asked—who’s going down next?
Alan Belcher? Chris Leben?
Even worse, what if Phil Davis doesn’t get a new opponent?
Just looking around the card, there’s still a lot of fights that UFC 155 can’t afford to lose.
While casual fans will likely be tuning in mainly for the Junior dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez rematch, it won’t be easy to satisfy hardcore fans if they lose guaranteed barn-burners like Brad Pickett vs. Eddie Wineland or Leonard Garcia vs. Cody McKenzie.
Brace yourself, folks. Dana White and Joe Silva have done an admirable job of filling in the rapidly-appearing gaps at UFC 155, but don’t be surprised if things get worse.
Let’s just pray that JDS and Velasquez are being extra careful in practice this month.
McKinley Noble is an MMA conspiracy theorist and FightFans Radio writer. His work has appeared in GamePro, Macworld and PC World. Talk with him on Twitter.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com