UFC Vegas 24 Loses Co-Main Event

UFC Vegas 24 will be without its co-main event later tonight (Sat., Apr. 17, 2021) at UFC Vegas 24 live on ESPN/ESPN+ from inside UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nev., as a lightweight tilt between Jeremy Stephens and Drakkar Klose has been removed from the card.

According to the UFC Vegas 24 broadcast, Klose was forced out of the co-main event due to an injury. The details of the injury are unknown at this time, but ESPN’s Ariel Helwani is reporting that the injury is related to Stephens pushing Klose at Friday’s ceremonial weigh ins.

About an hour after the cancelation Klose took to social media to explain the situation. He confirmed that he started feeling numbness in his hand and tightness in his neck after Stephens pushed him at the weigh ins.

This is devastating news to a ESPN card lacking drawing power on a Saturday night that will also feature a Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren boxing match on PPV (details HERE). Stephens vs. Klose was nothing spectacular, but they’re two very entertaining fighters who created quite the buzz following Friday’s dust up. The promotion will be looking to reschedule the lightweight matchup as soon as possible.

With the Stephens vs. Klose bout cancelled, UFC Vegas 24 will proceed with the following lineup:

Main Card (ESPN/ESPN+)
10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT

Robert Whittaker vs. Kelvin Gastelum
Jeremy Stephens vs. Drakkas Klose CANCELED
Andrei Arlovski vs. Chase Sherman
Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Jacob Malkoun
Tracy Cortez vs. Justine Kish
Alexander Munoz vs. Luis Pena

‘Prelims’ Undercard (ESPN/ESPN+)
7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

Juan Espino vs. Alexandr Romanov
Lupita Godinez vs. Jessica Penne
Bartosz Fabinski vs. Gerald Meerschaert
Anthony Birchak vs. Tony Gravely
Austin Hubbard vs. Dakota Bush

For complete UFC Vegas 24 results and coverage click HERE.