UPDATE: The UFC 319 pay-per-view event faces a major shake-up, losing three fights in just two days. This dramatic turn of events has left fans reeling as the highly anticipated matchups fall apart just ahead of the fight night.
In a stunning development, middleweight fighter Bryan Battle (12-2) has missed the middleweight limit by a staggering four pounds, leading to the cancellation of his bout against Nursulton Ruziboev (36-9-2). This marks the second consecutive time Battle has failed to make weight, following a welterweight miss last December. Despite moving up an entire weight class, the 30-year-old was unable to meet the scale, prompting immediate concerns about his future in the Octagon.
Additionally, the welterweight finale of “The Ultimate Fighter” between Rodrigo Sezinando and Daniil Donchenko has been scrapped due to an injury sustained by Sezinando. Fans will have to wait for a rescheduled date to see this matchup materialize.
Adding to the disappointment, a fan-favorite lightweight contest between Diego Ferreira and King Green has also been axed following Green’s announcement of an injury via social media. The loss of these key matchups has cast a shadow over the event, heightening the urgency for UFC officials to maintain fan engagement.
Fortunately, the main event remains intact, with both middleweight title contenders Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev making their weights as of Friday. Chimaev tipped the scales at 183 pounds, two pounds under the limit, ensuring that the title fight will proceed as scheduled.
As fans eagerly await the main event, the UFC has even secured middleweight contender Caio Borralho as a backup, although his services are not currently needed. The stakes are high as the UFC looks to deliver an electrifying night despite the recent setbacks.
With the event just hours away, all eyes will be on how these developments impact the fighters and the card overall. Stay tuned for updates as UFC 319 unfolds and see how these surprising changes may affect the anticipated matchups and the fighters’ futures in the sport.
