UFC 257 has lost two fights, including a main card bout and the featured prelim. However, neither the main event of Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier or co-main of Dan Hooker vs. Michael Chandler are under threat.
The first fight to be struck from the schedule today was a lightweight showdown planned to feature Matt Frevola and Ottman Azaitar.
Frevola weighed in without incident, but his opponent was nowhere to be seen.
This turn of events has to be especially frustrating for Frevola who had three fights cancelled in 2020. One because an entire event was cancelled at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, one because his cornerman Billy Quarantillo tested positive for COVID-19 and one because Frevola fractured his foot.
Neither Azaitar, whose inclusion in the UFC is not without controversy, nor the UFC have provided a reason for the withdrawal.
The second fight to go kaput, was the formerly featured prelim that was to pit Arman Tsarukyan against Nasrat Haqparast at lightweight.
Tsarukyan made it to the scale, but came in three pounds over the 156 lb limit. He was given an hour to shed the offending pounds. However, before that could happen, his fight was called off after Haqparast failed to show up within the three hour time window.
With those fights missing from the card the event now stands at 10 fights. Frevola vs. Azaitar’s pay-per-view slot goes to Makhmud Muradov vs. Andrew Sanchez, which was previously slated to open the event on the Early Prelims.
About the author
