MMAUnltd is reporting that the fight between Carlos Condit and Paul Daley is off:
Carlos Condit has suffered an injury and has been forced to withdraw from his UFC 108 contest against hard-hitting Brit Paul Daley, MMAUnltd.com has learned from a source close to the contest.
We were told that a replacement is being sought for the event on January 2nd.
This was a highly anticipated fight and it continues the trend of injuries across UFC cards, 108 has been especially hard hit.
Rather than find a replacement it almost seems like 108 could stand to be canceled. With Rampage Jackson saying he is going to come back to finish out his contract they could scratch the event and its main event of Thiago Silva v. Rashad Evans and free up Evans for the grudge match with Jackson.
Something has to give though as it is very clear that a card with Gilbert Yvel in the featured undercard bout is in a considerable amount of trouble.
[UPDATE] – Paul Daley has commented on the situation to Fighters Only:
“I’d [accept] any fight.. I just wanna fight. Condit is a big p—- IMO, I have inside information on that dude….it’s all good as long as I fight,” he wrote, a comment that is sure to enrage former WEC welterweight champion Condit.
A source close to Daley said the British welterweight is under the impression Condit had not begun a proper training camp, and is questioning how long Condit had known he would not be fighting. “Paul has spent a shitload of money on this training camp out of his own pocket, and his team have bought non-refundable tickets to go out to the US for the fight so hopefully Paul gets another opponent for this card, he is really pissed off,” the source said.
In his post on The Underground, Daley went on to appeal to UFC matchmaker Joe Silva for a new opponent, suggesting a couple of names he would like to fight. “Koshcheck…is a tough motherf*cker, but I accept the challenge. Hazellet has sick subs, and is dangerous, but I accept that fight too. Any top level fighter in 170lbs with a winning record. Joe make it happen.”
[UPDATE] – Dustin Hazelett steps in:
Multiple sources informed MMAWeekly.com on Tuesday that Hazelett will step in for an injured Carlos Condit to face Paul Daley in the co-main event of UFC 108, which takes place Jan. 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.