So a pretty quiet week with UFC 223 going down this Saturday…
Although it almost seems like an eternity ago, Tony Ferguson trips and ruptures his lateral collateral ligament whilst carrying out media duties with UFC’s broadcasting partner FOX. Ferguson tripped over a heavy production cable in the studio… forcing the UFC to cancel his match up with Khabib Nurmagomedov for the fourth time.
To the rescue… featherweight champion and Hawaiian hero Max Holloway. We look set to have a top replacement for Ferguson to take on Khabib, with the opportunity for ‘Blessed’ to become a two-weight world champion.
Conor McGregor and a group of friends fly in on a private jet from Ireland and cause havoc at the conclusion of the customary UFC media day. Windows are put through on a bus containing fighters, including Khabib Nurmagomedov, with McGregor and teammate Cian Cowley arrested on assault charges and criminal mischief.
The window smashed by McGregor on the bus had lightweight Michael Chiesa sat on the other side, who was cut and subsequently has been forced to withdraw from his bout with Anthony Pettis. That bus also contained Ray Borg, who’s fight has also been cancelled due to fragments of glass getting in to his eye.
Artem Lobov, who was due to fight Alex Caceres on the card was part of McGregor’s entourage on their path of destruction at the Barclays Center, had to be pulled from his fight due to his involvement in the fracas. Lobov was confronted by Nurmagomedov earlier during the week, which is what is said to have angered McGregor to the point of him causing this chaos.
What more could possibly go wrong?! Max Holloway is ruled out on medical grounds whilst cutting weight after weighing an alleged 159lbs when New York State Athletic Commission forced him out of the fight. Dana White’s blood pressure is through the roof.
Who would replace Holloway… if anyone?! Former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis looks like he will step in after his bout with Chiesa fell through the day prior, however Pettis cannot make the 155lb limit, weighing in at 0.2lbs too heavy.
Paul Felder was the only man in contention who made the 155lb limit, but the commission would not approve the fight as Felder “is not ranked”… ridiculous I know! Felder’s scheduled opponent, Al Iaquinta is eventually announced as the replacement, despite weighing in at 155.2lbs…
If this wasn’t confusing enough… we’re initially told that only Khabib can win the title on Saturday night, before Dana White announces that they weighed Iaquinta’s underwear and that made for the 0.2lbs in difference. He goes on to add that the commission do not recognise this as a title fight, but if Iaquinta was to win… they would award him the lightweight title.
So we’re left with Khabib Nurmagomedov taking on Al Iaquinta for some type of lightweight title, with Rose Namajunas fighting Joanna Jedrzejczyk in the co-main event for the strawweight crown.
Nurmagomedov is the huge favourite (as expected), with the Russian risking his 25-0 record against a short notice replacement, who has competed just one in the last three years. For Iaquinta, there is absolutely nothing to lose… but surely his best option is to just go for broke in the opening round to try and stun the unbeaten Dagestani.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk will be hoping for revenge, after the former strawweight queen lost out to Rose Namajunas at UFC 217 in New York last November. A tough weight cut was given as a reason for a below-par performance last time out, whilst Namajunas will hope to repeat her upset, whilst continuing her community projects outside of the octagon.
Look out for Russia’s Zabit Magomedsharipov, who has been moved from the prelims to the main card in this shake up, as he faces Kyle Bochniak. The featherweight prospect is a real talent and will hope to demonstrate it on a bigger platform… He could be a future champion!
The event gets underway at the eye-watering time of 1AM on BT Sport, with the main card kicking off at 3AM. Who’s staying up!?
Full Fight Card
Main Card (3AM on BT Sport)
UFC Lightweight Championship: Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Al Iaquinta
UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship: Rose Namajunas © vs. Joanna Jedzejczyk
Featherweight: Renato Moicano vs. Calvin Kattar
Featherweight: Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Kyle Bochniak
Lightweight: Joe Lauzon vs. Chris Gruetzemacher
Prelims (1AM on BT Sport)
Women’s Strawweight: Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Felice Herrig
Women’s Flyweight: Bec Rawlings vs. Ashlee Evans-Smith
Lightweight: Evan Dunham vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier
Light Heavyweight: Devin Clark vs. Mike Rodriguez
