The UFC is willing to take another chance on an undefeated prospect.
This year’s International Fight Week went down in Las Vegas with a total of 11 fights. UFC 317: Topuria vs. Oliveira initially had 12 bouts scheduled for the card, however, a middleweight bout fell through at the last minute.
Following Sedriques Dumas’ withdrawal from his fight against Jackson McVey, 7-0 middleweight Christopher Ewert stepped in on short notice and attempted to cut 30 lbs in four days for his UFC debut.
Ewert failed to make the weight and with his body giving out, he pulled out of the fight with 10 lbs left to go. The Chilean fighter was cut from the UFC for not showing up to Friday morning’s weigh-in.
After a couple of days of concern for Ewert’s fighting future, we finally have an answer as to what’s next for ‘El Tanke’.
Christopher Ewert gets Dana White’s Contender Series fight rebooked after UFC firing
Before he was signed and released by the UFC last week, Ewert had been preparing to fight Yuri Panferov (8-1) on the new season premiere of Dana White’s Contender Series on Aug. 12.
The show pits MMA’s top prospects against each other for a chance at a UFC contract.
The fight was initially cancelled after news of Ewert’s UFC debut.
However, with Ewert now removed from the roster, the UFC has decided to give Ewert another shot at a contract.
According to ESPN Deportes’ C.C. Legaspi, Ewert will fight Panferov on Contender Series on Aug. 12, after all.
We’ll see if Ewert can make it back to the UFC with an impressive performance.
Christopher Ewert speaks out after 10 lb weight miss at UFC 317
Ewert couldn’t say no to the UFC when they came calling on Tuesday.
On the cusp of a UFC contract, the 31-year-old is riding a red-hot seven-fight win streak, with five finishes and highly-touted KO power.
Ewert was unsuccessful in his weight cut, attempting to go from 217 lbs to 186 lbs in a matter of days.
Ewert doesn’t regret trying to make his UFC dreams into a reality.
“No one said it would be easy,” Ewert wrote on his Instagram story following his UFC firing.
“Rather try than stay with doubt,” Ewert added.
“Thanks to my coaches @javiertorresofficialmma @depredador_burgos1 @pabloentropia for backing me up to 1000, to my family and all the people who sent me messages of support, very grateful to each of you.”