UFC Vegas 17 — Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) final event of 2020 — has suffered another setback, as MMA Fighting is reporting that Alexandre Pantoja has been forced out of scheduled fight against Manel Kape.
The Flyweight fight — which was set to go down on Dec. 19, 2020 inside UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada — is just the latest one to be scratched from the stacked ESPN+-streamed event, as the Welterweight bout between Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev — which was set to serve as headliner — was axed due to a positive COVID-19 test.
Kape was set to make his UFC debut after previously serving as RIZIN’s Bantamweight champion. Pantoja, meanwhile, was looking to get back on track after suffering a loss to Askar Askarov earlier this year on “Fight Island.”
The UFC Vegas 17 headlining act will feature Stephen Thompson taking on Geoff Neal, while Greg Hardy and Marcin Tybura get headlining duties. Also, Anthony Pettis will face Alex Morono, Marlon Vera faces Jose Aldo and Marlon Moraes will battle against Rob Font.
To see the entire UFC Vegas 17: “Thompson vs Neal” fight card click here.