UPDATE: The highly anticipated UFC 319 pay-per-view event is facing an urgent setback as three fights have been canceled in just 48 hours. The shocking news broke Friday when middleweight fighter Bryan Battle (12-2) missed the weight limit by 4 pounds, leading to the cancellation of his bout against Nursulton Ruziboev (36-9-2).
Battle’s weight miss marks his second consecutive failure to make weight, having previously struggled in December at welterweight. Despite making the move up to middleweight for this event, the 30-year-old fighter’s inability to meet the scale has raised significant concerns among fans and officials alike.
Additionally, the UFC has announced that the welterweight finale bout from “The Ultimate Fighter” featuring Rodrigo Sezinando and Daniil Donchenko has been scrapped due to an injury to Sezinando. This matchup will be rescheduled at a later date, adding to the growing list of cancellations.
In another blow to the card, fan-favorite lightweight contest between Diego Ferreira and King Green has also fallen through after Green revealed via social media that he has been forced off due to injury. The loss of these key fights has left fans reeling just days before the main event.
Fortunately for the UFC, the highly anticipated main event featuring middleweight title contenders Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev remains intact. Both fighters successfully weighed in Friday, with Chimaev coming in at 183 pounds, two pounds below the limit. To further bolster the event, middleweight contender Caio Borralho made weight as a backup, ensuring there is still a competitive edge to the title fight.
The cascading cancellations highlight the unpredictable nature of fight week and the immense pressure fighters face. As UFC 319 approaches, fans are left wondering if more surprises await. Stay tuned for further updates as the situation develops.
