Tomorrow’s UFC 221 event has been plagued from the start.
In the UFC’s original plans for their return to Australia they had hoped to put UFC champion Georges St-Pierre up against interim champion Robert Whittaker.
As history shows, GSP would vacate the belt, and Luke Rockhold would step in to fight Whittaker for the undisputed world title.
Then Robert Whittaker would fall ill with a staph infection that made it’s way to his internal organs, and he was forced to pull out of the fight card.
As such, the UFC found a suitable replacement in Yoel Romero. And Luke Rockhold agreed to fight the Cuban olympic medalist for the UFC’s interim world title.
Friday, Yoel Romero missed weight. The Athletic Commission granted him two additional hours to come in on the mark, and when the clock ticked at the final minute, Yoel Romero failed to make weight again.
Now, it’s up to Luke Rockhold to accept Yoel’s new weight, to which he has yet to do.
Instead, according to sources, Luke Rockhold is trying to renegotiate the fight under new terms, here at the final hour.
Should the UFC fail to come to terms with Luke it will signal the fight’s cancellation entirely.
Luke Rockhold has every right to turn down the fight, as the two athletes agreed to a championship bout contested at a strictly enforced 185 pounds. Romero’s inability to do so made their contract void.
Now, it’s up to the UFC and Luke Rockhold to come to new terms ahead of the bout, something that puts Luke in the power position, as he can turn down any offer, and does not have to fight now that Yoel has missed weight.
This story is still developing… Stay tuned!
