UFC 308 is one of the best events of 2024 with a host of former champions, top prospects, and potential future title challengers littered throughout the main and preliminary fight cards.
Unfortunately, UFC 308 has also seen several fights fall through; with the latest reports suggesting that 18-3 bantamweight Said Nurmagomedov is now looking for a late-notice replacement.
UFC 308 fight reportedly falls through, UFC Vegas 99 winner offers to step in
On the UFC 308 prelims, scheduled for the afternoon of October 26, 18-3 Russian bantamweight Said Nurmagomedov was meant to face off against dangerous Brazilian prospect, Daniel Santos.
Unfortunately, reports have emerged over the past 24 hours that claim Santos has been forced to withdraw from the fight due to an unknown injury.
The fight cancelation was first reported by MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin, who wrote on X last night: “Said Nurmagomedov needs a new opponent for Saturday’s #UFC308 card in Abu Dhabi.
“I’ve been told Daniel Santos is out and the UFC is actively looking for a replacement to face Nurmagomedov on short notice,” claimed Martin.
Whilst the UFC has not yet officially confirmed whether Santos is out, it should be noted that the information has been shared by various established MMA reporters – luckily, numerous fighters have already raised their hand as a potential replacement.
They include 17-6 flyweight hopeful Charles ‘InnerG’ Johnson, who defeated China’s Sumudaerji only this past weekend via a hard-fought but thoroughly well-deserved unanimous decision.
“I have had the conversations now time to see if it makes sense for the business,” Johnson wrote on X after teasing that he’d be willing to fight again on just three days’ notice: “I understand the risk. That is this life.”
“I want to do great things in this life, I like the fight,” he wrote in a later post, tagging the UFC matchmakers directly as he demanded: “Said Nurmagomedov is great. So am I… [Dana White, Sean Shelby, Mick Maynard]. Call me…”
Despite being an exciting prospect in the 125lb division, Johnson saw a surprising amount of pushback to the suggestion that he could step in to face the Russian out in Abu Dhabi.
“We deal in positivity and never put a cap on anyone in this world. I get the fight I’ll try my hardest to win. I have the skill. We will see if I can handle the size,” he responded to one fan, adding: “What we do is insane. We love it here.”
- UFC 308: Holloway hits back at Topuria’s ‘ten seconds’ suggestion as he brands rival the ‘dumbest MF’
Further updates to UFC 308 as two other fights also fall through
Should it be confirmed that Santos vs Nurmagomedov has indeed been scrapped, it’ll be the third fight to have fallen through from the UFC 308 card in the past few weeks.
As already announced by the promotion, two other bouts have also sadly been called off, although both have already found replacement fighters.
Justin Tafa withdrew from his heavyweight fight with Kennedy Nzechukwu – the hard-hitting Australian has been replaced by fan-favorite American, Chris Barnett.
Welterweight Nursulton Ruziboev has also been removed from his fight with Rinat Fakhretdinov, former LFA welterweight champion Carlos Leal steps in on short notice in what’ll be his UFC debut.
The UFC 308 card was also originally meant to feature Alexander Volkov vs Ciryl Gane, which was moved to UFC 310 in December after the Russian suffered a knee injury in training.