Despite Khabib Nurmagomedov being forced out of the co-main event championship fight, Tony Ferguson may remain on “UFC 209” after all.
Nurmagomedov fell ill on Thursday evening due to complications with his weight cut and was brought to the Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center. Khabib was dismissed from the hospital and was ultimately deemed medically unfit by doctors to step into the octagon on Saturday night. With just twenty-four hours to go until fight night, UFC confirmed they were canceling the fight but Ferguson may remain on the card if they can find a replacement.
Damon Martin is saying that Nate Diaz’s name has been thrown in the mix to replace Nurmagomedov to fight Ferguson:
Sources told me that Nate Diaz was considered as a late replacement to fight Tony Ferguson but he was too heavy. #UFC209
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) March 3, 2017
Michael Johnson has mentioned that he is on the short list of replacement fighters as he has already spoken with the UFC about stepping in:
Michael Johnson has confirmed to the Review-Journal that he has accepted the fight and the process is underway to making it happen.
— Adam Hill (@AdamHillLVRJ) March 3, 2017
The Nevada State Athletic Commission is keeping the scale prepared for a fighter just in case UFC eventually finds a replacement, which they are trying to do:
I'm told the Nevada commission still has the official weigh-in scale in place, in case an emergency weigh-in needs to take place today …
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) March 3, 2017
"UFC is furiously working to find a replacement for Nurmagomedov so Ferguson can stay on card." I'm told by a source.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) March 3, 2017
