The good news for Floridians is that “UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Romero” will still go down June 27 inside Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida. The bad news is several bouts were nixed from the lineup due to visa issues.
“Due to an issue affecting the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs visa system and a technical problem with the Consular Consolidated Database, UFC is unable to secure entry into the country for 12 of its athletes [for UFC Fight Night 70],” the UFC expressed in Saturday’s press release. “After reviewing every available option, UFC has committed to moving forward with the fight card in Florida, adding several new bouts to round out the nine-fight card.”
A middleweight shootout between Lyoto Machida (pictured) and Yoel Romero still gets top billing. However, the show’s new co-main event will showcase Lorenz Larkin and Santiago Ponzinibbio.
The welterweight affair between Brazilian Erick Silva and Rick Story was supposed to co-headline the gig, but the UFC is now “discussing options for those fighters at this time.”
The Ultimate Fighter Brazil bantamweight and lightweight finals were also slated to be in Florida, but those two bouts have been moved to UFC 190 on August 1.
Furthermore, Masanori Kanehara vs. Rani Yahya has been shifted to “UFC Fight Night: Mir vs. Duffee” in San Diego.
It is unknown whether UFC Fight Pass, Fox Sports, Fox Sports 2 or some combination of the three will off the event for live viewing.
Here is UFC Fight Night 70’s updated roster (one final bout will be added later to complete the card):
Steve Montgomery vs. Tony Sims
Lewis Gonzalez vs. Leandro Silva
Joe Merritt vs. Alex Oliveira
Hacran Dias vs. Levan Makashvili
Steve Bosse vs. Thiago “Marreta” Santos
Eddie Gordon vs. Antonio Carlos Junior
Lorenz Larkin vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio
Lyoto Machida vs. Yoel Romero
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