An enormous undercard bout at UFC Atlanta was scratched simply days earlier than Saturday’s occasion.
UFC Atlanta is headlined by a pivotal welterweight matchup between high contenders Kamaru Usman and Joaquin Buckley, going down this Saturday at State Farm Area. The struggle marks Usman’s long-awaited return to the welterweight division, and his first Octagon look general in nearly two full years.
The cardboard additionally marks the UFC’s long-awaited return to Atlanta after a six-year absence, relationship again to UFC 236. The occasion featured a UFC Hall of Fame fight between Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum.
UFC Atlanta might make extra MMA recollections this weekend. However simply days earlier than the occasion, the cardboard took an enormous hit.
UFC Atlanta takes an enormous hit as matchup between thrilling bantamweights canceled
As first reported by MMA publication L’Arena MMA, bantamweight Charles Jourdain was compelled to withdraw from his upcoming struggle with Ricky Simon as a result of an eye fixed damage. As of this writing, it’s unsure if the UFC matchmakers will try and discover a last-second substitute to face Simon at UFC Atlanta.
Jourdain’s withdrawal comes at an unlucky time, after a profitable bantamweight debut in November at UFC Edmonton. He defeated Victor Henry by second-round submission after making the full-time transfer to the 135 lb division.
Jourdain traded wins and losses within the UFC’s featherweight division, incomes victories over the likes of Kron Gracie and Andre Ewell. A win over a high bantamweight like Simon would’ve moved Jourdain nearer to a Prime 15 spot.
Simon was set to return to the Octagon for the primary time since a devastating knockout over Javid Basharat at UFC Seattle in February. The knockout win snapped a three-fight dropping streak.
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Charles Jourdain vs. Ricky Simon scratched as a result of a Jourdain eye damage
Regardless of the lack of Jourdain vs. Simon, UFC Atlanta stays an intriguing card with an essential important occasion reserving between Usman and Buckley. The UFC Atlanta important occasion winner might doubtlessly earn a title shot for his or her subsequent struggle in opposition to both Jack Della Maddalena or Islam Makhachev.
Maddalena earned the UFC welterweight title by defeating Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 final month. Makhachev will vacate the light-weight title later this month for a transfer to welterweight.
Buckley has been on a roll since transferring all the way down to 170 lbs, incomes current wins over the likes of Colby Covington, Stephen Thompson, and Vicente Luque. He enters UFC Atlanta on a six-fight profitable streak.
