UFC heavyweight Mohamed Usman has withdrawn from UFC Rio with just a few hours’ discover.
UFC Rio is a stable UFC Battle Night time card with lightweights Charles Oliveira vs. Mateusz Gamlot headlining the occasion. This shall be Oliveira’s first return to the Octagon since his knockout loss to Ilia Topuria for the then-vacant belt at UFC 317.
One of many extra fascinating matchups on the Oliveira vs. Gamlot undercard card was a heavyweight showdown between two brothers of the UFC’s greatest stars. Mohamed Usman and Valter Walker, brothers of Kamaru Usman and Johnny Walker, had been scheduled to conflict within the Octagon this weekend.
Nonetheless, in accordance with blended martial arts journalist Relte Viana, Usman reportedly withdrew from the struggle resulting from an damage hours earlier than the struggle.
Mohamed Usman vs. Valter Walker has been canceled resulting from a last-minute medical subject.
As of this writing, the precise nature of Usman’s damage is unknown. Viana additionally stories that the UFC is actively looking for a last-minute alternative for Walker this weekend.
Usman’s damage is an unlucky setback after he earned his first UFC victory in practically two years with a unanimous choice victory over Hamdi Abdelwahab at UFC Baku earlier this yr. Since his win, Usman has had a sequence of wins and losses throughout his time within the UFC. final fighter 30 Heavyweight Championship.
Earlier than his win over Abdelwahab, Usman suffered back-to-back losses to Thomas Petersen and Mick Parkin.
Walker, alternatively, entered UFC Rio’s struggle week on a three-fight profitable streak, all of which got here through first-round heel hook submission. Most lately, in July, he tapped out Kennedy Nzechukwu in simply 54 seconds.
If Walker is unable to acquire a late alternative opponent for UFC Rio, UFC matchmakers may doubtlessly reschedule Walker vs. Usman for a later date. The UFC’s subsequent pay-per-view card will happen later this month at UFC 321, headlined by Tom Aspinall vs. Cyril Gane.
