After a brief recess, the UFC returns to our screens this weekend for a stacked Fight Night event out in Saudi Arabia, headlined by former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.
The card might have been built around ‘The Last Stylebender’, but the event still features a whole host of household names, including Shara ‘Bullet’ Magomedov, Michael ‘Venom’ Page, and Sergei Pavlovich.
However, the event has reportedly lost one of its other main card bouts after one of the athletes experienced an unknown issue with his passport and/or travel documentation.
Andre Muniz vs Ikram Aliskerov reportedly off UFC Saudi Arabia card
Unfortunately, just one week out from UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Imavov, reports are now circulating that the main card middleweight fight between Andre Muniz and Ikram Aliskerov has sadly been canceled.
According to a statement shared by Muniz on his Instagram page, and translated via MMA Junkie, the Brazilian has experienced an unknown issue with his passport and is unable to travel to Riyadh.
“Unfortunately, neither I nor my team, nor the UFC, knew about this in time to let us know, and I haven’t been able to go through the entire process to get this document yet.
“The UFC thought it would be better to reschedule my fight with the same opponent, but it took another date. I’m waiting for you to set the date right away, and that’s it.”
Muniz did not disclose which event the UFC is now targeting for that fight.
This is the second time that Muniz vs Aliskerov has been booked and then canceled; the two were originally set to face each other last Summer before Muniz withdrew with a foot injury.
He was replaced by Antonio Trocoli, with Aliskerov being eventually pulled from that bout in order to fill in for the sick Khamzat Chimaev against Robert Whittaker the following week – ‘The Reaper’ won that fight via a first-round knockout.
Whilst it’s a shame that Muniz vs Aliskerov has been canceled for a second time, fans are still in for a tremendous night of MMA action out in Saudi Arabia on February 1.
Israel Adesanya headlines UFC Saudi Arabia against ‘The Sniper’
Israel Adesanya headlines the card against French contender Nassourdine Imavov, with Shara ‘Bullet’ Magomedov set to face British striking superstar Michael ‘Venom’ Page in the co-main event.
There’s also a heavyweight fight between Sergei Pavlovich and Jairzinho Rozenstruik to look forward to, as well as a bantamweight dust-up between Said Nurmagomedov and Vinicius Oliveira.
- Israel Adesanya vs Nassourdine Imavov
- Shara Magomedov vs Michael Page
- Sergei Pavlovich vs Jairzinho Rozenstruik
- Said Nurmagomedov vs Vinicius Oliveira
- Muhammad Naimov vs Kaan Ofli
- Shamil Gaziev vs Thomas Petersen
- Terrance McKinney vs Damir Hadzovic
- Fares Ziam vs Mike Davis
- Jasmine Jasudavicius vs Mayra Bueno Silva
- Bodgan Grad vs Lucas Alexander
- Hamdy Abdelwahab vs Jamal Pogues
- Al-Selwady vs Bolaji Oki
UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Imavov takes place on Saturday, February 1 from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.