Unfortunately, here we are at the final hour, as the UFC looked to kick off their 2018 year with a bang, and instead, nothing but travesty has plagued tomorrow’s and the upcoming UFC 221 fight cards.
Most notably, UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker was deemed medically unfit to fight Luke Rockhold at UFC 221. As a result he was forced off the card, with no return date in sight.
Also taking a hit to Sunday’s UFC event in St. Louis, Uriah Hall was unable to make it to the UFC weigh-ins scales, scrapping the scheduled retirement fight of Vitor Belfort. A replacement for Belfort on a days notice is not an option for the promotion, and Belfort has been pulled from the event as a result.
The highly anticipated return of Thiago Alves has also been scrapped. Also scheduled to fight tomorrow night, his opponent had a bad weight cut, and reportedly fell due to weakness, cut his head and was not medically cleared to compete.
Despite the UFC’s best efforts, and coming off a horrible year in 2017, it looks like 2018 is picking up right where we left off.
Sorry fight fans. At least UFC 220 still seems to be intact with the two fights in Miocic vs. Ngannou, and Cormier vs. Oezdemir being the only top 10 ranked talent across the entire $60.00 pay-per-view event.
Are we salty about this? Damn right we are.
