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There has been a late shakeup to the upcoming UFC 241 pay-per-view (PPV) event, which is set to go down this Saturday (Aug. 17, 2019) in Anaheim. Calif., as Clay Collard has been forced out of his Lightweight showdown against Devonte Smith.
According to MMA Junkie, the reason for Collard’s withdrawal from the event is unknown, though the report mentioned that health issues could be at the root of the problem. The fight was set to be Collard’s return to UFC after going 1-3 in his previous stint from 2014 to 2015.
Stepping in to fill the void will be Octagon newcomer, Khama Worthy (14-6), who accepted the bout on just a week’s notice. Worthy has won his last three fights and is an impressive 5-2 in his last seven contests on the regional circuit.
Smith, meanwhile, is 2-0 so far under the UFC banner after earning his way into the promotion via Dana White’s Tuesday Night “Contender Series” (DWTNCS), and is currently riding a six-fight win streak.
He most recently defeated Dong Hyun Ma at UFC 234 last February via first round knockout, extending his streak of finishing all of his opponents in fights he won.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 241 fight card this weekend, starting with the UFC Fight Pass “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET, then the remaining undercard balance on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
To see who else is competing at UFC 241 — which is set to be headlined by a Heavyweight title fight between Daniel Cormier and Stipe Miocic — click here.