BREAKING: UFC 285 loses a massive main card matchup, replacement being looked for
UFC 285's card was dealt a major blow today after it was revealed that a main-card fighter has been forced to withdraw from their bout.
Julio Arce was set to take on former champion Cody Garbrandt in a bantamweight clash that would have been the biggest fight of his UFC career so far. According to MMA journalist Marcel Dorff, however, Arce has been forced out of the bout through injury.
Dorff wrote on Twitter:
"INJURY. Julio Arce is injured. He is out of scheduled fight against Cody Garbrandt at #UFC285 on March 4th."
🚨🚨INJURY🚨🚨
Julio Arce is injured. He is out of his scheduled fight against Cody Garbrandt at #UFC285 on March 4th. https://t.co/GtM6rVfFpT
The journalist also confirmed that the organization is still trying to keep 'No Love' on the card and is actively seeking a replacement.
"They definitely wanna keep Cody on the card."
@JoshWeigand1 They definitely wanna keep Cody on the card.
Cody Garbrandt will be hoping they are quick to find him an opponent as he pushes once again to turn his career around. The 31-year-old has lost five of his last six, including a current two-fight skid.
The American has struggled to recreate his championship-winning form after suffering back-to-back KO/TKO losses to long-time rival T.J. Dillashaw. Since dropping the belt in 2017, Garbrandt has only won one fight, which was a stunning KO victory over Raphael Assunção in the last second of the first round in 2020.
He’s baaaaaack Cody Garbrandt buzzer beater KO #NoLove https://t.co/lA2Cwh8f1n
Francis Ngannou's coach speaks out after UFC heavyweight champion's release
Following the news of Francis Ngannou's release earlier this month, the UFC announced that UFC 285 would feature Jon Jones versus Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight title.
Ngannou's release sent shockwaves throughout the combat sports world as 'The Predator' had, in Dana White's words, turned down multiple substantial contracts. Since his release, Ngannou's coach, Eric Nicksick, has spoken out in defense of the former champ.
Nicksick believes Dana White has tried to force a narrative that Ngannou was seeking easier fights outside of the organization. According to the coach, however, if Francis Ngannou had fought and lost to Jones, his 'new' contract would have been significantly impacted, which he didn't agree to.
Speaking to John Eric Poli of MyMMANews, Nicksick said:
"I don't know enough about these contracts to make an accurate comment about that. I just know when it came to my guy, those were things that he was worried about. He was like, 'Man, if I lose this fight [against Jones], I lose all my protection,' the numbers would drastically drop."
He added:
"Yes, he was going to get paid great money to fight Jon Jones.... but that was the next question. What happens if you were to lose, he's back down to the bottom again. The number for him and the number that they gave didn't seem fair. Didn't make sense."
Catch the full interview here: