Bad news for the UFC today, as UFC Bantamweight Champion TJ Dillashaw was pulled from his upcoming UFC 186 main event with former champion Renan Barao.
Dillashaw sustained a fractured rib in training that forced him to withdraw from his April 25 title fight. Dillashaw’s manager, Mike Roberts, told MMA Fighting that Dillashaw sustained the injury last week while wrestling and will be on the shelf for about six weeks.
The news, first reported by PostMedia, is a huge blow to UFC 186. UFC President Dana White said the Demetrious Johnson vs. Kyoji Horiguchi Flyweight title fight would now be moved to the main event slot, with Abel Trujillo vs. John Makdessi getting bumped up to the main card.
Dillashaw beat Barao soundly last may to win the championship, scoring a huge upset. Barao was slated for a rematch at UFC 177, but was replaced by UFC newcomer Joe Soto after he had complications during his weight cut.
Even worse for the UFC, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, who is supposed to make his return at the event is locked up in a legal battle with Bellator MMA that may keep him from fighting.
UFC 186 will take place from the Bell Centre from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. In addition to the Flyweight Championship fight, the show features top-10 fighters Michael Bisping, Sarah Kaufman, and Alexis Davis.
