Joe Lauzon simply the newest to undergo MMA freak harm, dangerous luck earlier than massive struggle

Joe Lauzon is the newest to undergo a fight-cancelling freak harm, however he’s actually not the one one.

From MMA’s early days, the rule of thumb is that no struggle will be thought of a certainty till the cage door locks. A few of MMA’s largest what-ifs are the results of some last-minute dangerous luck.

In Joe Lauzon’s case, the knee lockout he suffered after placing on socks following UFC Austin’s official weigh-ins will shut the door on a struggle with Donald Cerrone. In comparison with others, his dangerous luck has been comparatively gentle.

Listed below are only a few of the fighters who’ve caught a tricky break on the final minute.

Photograph by Susumu Nagao/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC by way of Getty Pictures

Kevin Randleman

After profitable the vacant UFC heavyweight title, Kevin Randleman was scheduled to make his first title protection in opposition to Pedro Rizzo at UFC 24, which was even named after the event. However within the hours earlier than the occasion, Randleman reportedly slipped on some pipes throughout his warm-up and fell to the concrete ground, knocking himself out. He was taken to the hospital and recognized with a concussion, and UFC 24 went on with out its headliner.

Esther Lin, MMA Combating

Ken Shamrock

Ultimately, UFC Corridor of Famer Ken Shamrock and Kimbo Slice met within the cage. Nevertheless it was seven years after their first reserving below the ill-fated EliteXC banner. Shamrock and Slice have been presupposed to conflict on CBS in a serious breakthrough for the MMA upstart. However whereas warming up backstage, Shamrock suffered a reduce on his left eyebrow that compelled him to withdraw from the struggle. Slice, arguably essentially the most bankable non-UFC attraction, was booked to face last-second substitute Seth Petruzelli. In one of the notorious upsets in MMA historical past, Slice was knocked out in 14 seconds, and Elite XC quickly after folded.

Photograph by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Tim Means

Means slipped within the sauna whereas slicing weight for a struggle in opposition to Abel Trujillo at UFC on FOX 5. When he awakened, he stated he had a lump on his head and fell to the ground on his fingers and knees. He was taken to the hospital and dominated out of the struggle.

Stefan Struve

The towering former UFC heavyweight was scheduled to tackle Matt Mitrione at UFC 175 when he reportedly fainted backstage, bowling over a bucket of ice. The Dutch fighter had earlier been recognized with a coronary heart situation and began to hyperventilate, drawing scrutiny from the UFC’s medical marketing consultant. Identified with a panic assault, Struve was compelled to the drafting board earlier than his subsequent comeback.

Photograph by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Tony Ferguson

One week earlier than UFC 223, Tony Ferguson was on the brink of defend his interim title in opposition to longtime rival Khabib Nurmagomedov in a bout that had thrice been known as off resulting from accidents and different issues. Whereas selling the pay-per-view occasion at a FOX Sports activities TV studio, he tripped on a cable and tore his LCL, forcing him to withdraw from the occasion. Nurmagomedov would go on to say the title, and the COVID-19 pandemic would later put the nail within the matchup’s coffin as Nurmagomedov retired and Ferguson’s profession stalled.

Michael Chiesa and Ray Borg

Esther Lin, MMA Combating

Esther Lin, MMA Combating

Ferguson’s UFC 223 withdrawal and the music chairs that accompanied it wasn’t the tip of the again luck earlier than the April 2018 pay-per-view occasion. Extra arrived within the type of Conor McGregor, who, reportedly incensed by Nurmagomedov’s slap-down of his teammate Artem Lobov, infamously attacked a UFC transport bus carrying the Dagestani fighter. Nurmagomedov was unharmed, however then-lightweight Michael Chiesa and Ray Borg have been injured by shards of flying glass and compelled to withdraw from their fights.

Borg forgave McGregor, however Chiesa took “Infamous” to court docket, arguing his title prospects have been broken by his cancelled struggle with ex-champ Anthony Pettis. Chiesa continues to be making an attempt to gather in court docket.

Esther Lin, MMA Combating

Robert Whittaker

The then-middleweight champion was scheduled to defend his title in opposition to Kelvin Gastelum in Melbourne at UFC 234. However on the day of the occasion, he fell unwell with extreme belly ache and was compelled into emergency hernia surgical procedure, leaving Anderson Silva vs. Israel Adesanya as the primary occasion.

Esther Lin, MMA Combating

Trevin Giles

Giles was nearly to make his stroll to the octagon for a struggle with Kevin Holland at UFC Vegas 5 when he fainted backstage. Nevada fee officers instantly scrapped him from the occasion. Giles afterward stated he was feeling higher however couldn’t conclusively say what had occurred.

Photograph by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Jamall Emmers

The featherweight was scratched so last-second from UFC Vegas 19 that he left his opponent, Chas Skelly, ready within the octagon when he didn’t stroll out for the struggle. Again spasms have been blamed for Emmers’ sudden removing.

Photograph by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Drakkar Klose

Set to face Jeremy Stephens within the co-main occasion of UFC Vegas 24, Klose was dominated out of the struggle when he stated he suffered a concussion after being shoved by his opponent on the weigh-ins. UFC President Dana White blamed UFC matchamaker Sean Shelby for not stopping Stephens, who was completely unapologetic for the incident. The struggle was not re-booked, and fewer than one yr later, Stephens’ contract was not renewed by the UFC.