The fight card for UFC 196 is in disarray after two scheduled Heavyweight Title fights have been cancelled.
Heavyweight Champions Fabricio Werdum had been scheduled to fight former champion Cain Velasquez in Las Vegas on February 6th. Velasquez pulled out of the fight due to a back injury.
Cain Velasquez is out with a back injury. Stipe vs Werdum for the heavyweight championship February 6th. pic.twitter.com/vPRJYJvOjL
— Dana White (@danawhite) January 24, 2016
The Brazilian was replaced by Croatian Stipe Miocic to fight Werdum and the card looked like it was going to get a title fight that many fans had paid for. Last night, Werdum pulled out of the fight, 24 hours after Miocic has been added to the card.
Last October, Miocic was due to fight Ben Rothwell in Dublin before the Croatian pulled out a week before the fight. Rothwell has not fought since last June and is due to fight in New Jersey this weekend against Josh Barnett in a Heavyweight fight.
Although Miocic pulled out of the Dublin bout, he has since fought Andrei Arlovski earlier this month, winning in the first round. Once the fight was announced against Werdum, the Croatian took to Twitter to claim he had to take the opportunity.
Gotta grab opportunity when it comes knocking. #LetsGo
— Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocicufc) January 24, 2016
Barnett has already stated he would be willing to fight Miocic next week. Could Rothwell step back in and be given a chance to fight Miocic?
Irish fans would not complain about seeing the fight they hoped to see last October, a few months late.
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