UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt was hopeful that he’d be able to overcome a back injury he sustained during training and fight former champion and teammate, TJ Dillashaw at UFC 213. However, it looks like Garbrandt will be unable to to fight by July 8th, as Dana White confirmed his removal from the card to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto earlier. He also told ESPN that his plan is for Dillashaw to face UFC flyweight kingpin Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson for his 125lb title this August.
Dana White also tells me Cody Garbrandt is officially off UFC 213 and that plan is to have TJ Dillashaw fight Demetrious Johnson in August.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) May 24, 2017
As a result of the shuffle, top ranked UFC middleweights Yoel Romero and Robert Whittaker will now co-headline UFC 213 for the middleweight title. UFC champion Michael Bisping will be unable to defend his title, as he says he’s still nursing an injury so Romero and Whittaker will now get their chance to become world champions this July in Las Vegas. The new main event will now be UFC bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes defending her title against number one ranked contender Valentina Shevchenko.
BREAKING: @danawhite tells me interim middleweight title fight between @YoelRomeroMMA and @RJWhittaker1990 will co-headline UFC 213.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) May 23, 2017
Per @danawhite, UFC 213 headliner is Amanda Nunes vs. Valentina Shevchenko. Romero, Whittaker co-main. Second July in a row Nunes headlines.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) May 24, 2017
