It’s official, Ben Rothwell will not be fighting on UFC Fight Night 76 in the 3Arena.
MMA Fighting are reporting that the heavyweight contender was informed by the UFC that they were unable to find a suitable replacement for the injured Stipe Miocic so close to the event.
As a result, Rothwell has been removed from the card, meaning and Norman Parke vs Reza Medadi has been bumped up from the prelims to become the new co-main event. Rothwell said that while he was very disappointed to not be fighting next week, although he admitted that he understood why the UFC had to remove him from the card to MMA Fighting.
“No hard feelings towards Stipe at all. I’ve been on the other side of the coin. These things happen, and I’d like to hope that everything happens for a reason. Maybe there is a bigger fight for me out there.”
The 33-year-old knockout artist was told that should any highly-ranked heavyweight pull out of a fight in the coming weeks, he’ll be considered as a replacement. Rothwell confessed there was one fight in particular he had his eye on.
“If by some act of God Overeem pulls out of the Junior dos Santos fight, I would be very happy. I want to fight JDS.”
Rothwell added that although he won’t be working at the event, he will still attend UFC Dublin.
“I was very much ready. One hundred percent ready to go for next week. I will shed a tear being in that crowd. I’ve been waiting 16 years to fight in front of a crowd like that, so I will pray before it’s all over that I get that chance.”
