And here we thought Henry Cejudo’s last-second scratch from UFC 177 would be the only major news coming out of Sacramento today. Just minutes before tipping the scale for his rematch against bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw, Renan Barao (pictured) was forced to withdraw from Saturday’s fight after passing out while cutting weight.
Joe Soto, who was slated to meet Anthony Birchak in the night’s prelims, was gifted the golden opportunity of challenging Dillashaw for his throne in the main event.
“[Barao’s] scared. He don’t want it,” Dillashaw said on the Fox Sports 1 weigh-ins show. “The coaches wanted the rematch more than he did … I’m a company man I’ll fight whoever.”
Soto will be riding a six-fight winning streak into his UFC debut.
No word if Barao or Birchak will be paid their show money. My guess, Birchak will and Barao will be told to pound sand.
For those complaining that tomorrow’s pay-per-view wasn’t worth it before, what do you think now? On the bright side, how cool will it be to hear Bruce Buffer say Joe “One Bad Mofo” Soto in Saturday night’s main event?
Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, California hosts the festivities.
Here is the show’s revised and depleted roster:
Preliminary Card:
(Fox Sports 1 8PM ET/5PM PT)
Chris Wade vs. Cain Carrizosa
Anthony Hamilton vs. Ruan Potts
Lorenz Larkin vs. Derek Brunson
Main Card:
(Pay-Per-View 10PM ET/7PM PT)
Justin Edwards vs. Yancy Medeiros
Ramsey Nijem vs. Carlos Diego Ferreira
Shayna Baszler vs. Bethe Correia
Danny Castillo vs. Tony Ferguson
Joe Soto vs. TJ Dillashaw (UFC bantamweight champion)
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