The likelihood of seeing a heel hook finish at UFC 204 has just decreased dramatically as Accrington’s Ian Entwistle has unfortunately been forced to withdraw from Saturday night’s card.
The UFC confirmed to SportsJOE on Friday afternoon that the 9-3 fighter would not be competing against American bantamweight Rob Font.
Entwistle did not take to the scales at the official weigh-ins for the event, which is set to take place this weekend in the Manchester Arena, and news of his withdrawal came shortly before the weigh-in deadline.
With the organisation unable to find a replacement on such short notice, the bout has been removed from the running order and Font will receive his show money.
Entwistle was hoping to get back to winning ways in front of a hometown crowd, after a pair of TKO defeats bookended his only UFC victory which arrived via his patented heel hook.
Due to illness, Ian Entwistle has been removed from #UFC204. His bout with Rob Font has been cancelled.
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) October 7, 2016
A submission specialist, Entwistle poses a problem for almost anybody at 135lbs once the fight gets to the mat but he will have to wait a little longer before he gets his chance to return to the win column.
Last week, fellow Brit Arnold Allen was pulled from his scheduled bout against Mirsad Bektic due to injury and was ultimately replaced by Russell Doane.
In the wake of Entwistle’s fight cancellation, undefeated Marc Diakiese’s Octagon debut against Lukasz Sajewski has been moved up the card from the Fight Pass prelims.
