Buyer beware.
Jon Jones is out of UFC 200 after being flagged for a potential doping violation. The news is shocking in one way but, given recent events in the sport, it really shouldn’t be.
Over the past 12 months, going back to the last international fight week, 12 main event fights have been cancelled, postponed or rearranged.
Conor McGregor was set to face Jose Aldo for the featherweight belt at UFC 189, last July, but the Brazilian withdrew after fracturing a rib in training. McGregor was carrying knee issues into the event but felt the show must go on and duly defeated Chad Mendes for the interim title.
The promotion had a pretty good run of it for the next three months but UFC Dublin (Fight Night 76) sparked a worrying trend. Joe Duffy was set to take on Dustin Poirier in the main event at the 3 Arena but was concussed in training a week out from the fight.
Stipe Miocic’s heavyweight bout with Ben Rothwell had originally been slated as the co-main event but that hit the skids when the Cleveland fighter sustained an injury. With those two fights nixed, Paddy Holohan vs. Louis Smolka was promoted to the main event.
In the following months, UFC 193, 196 [the original one, which became Fight Night 82], 196, 197, 199 and 200 have all been hit. Here are all the main or co-main events that have been consigned to the dustbin of history.
UFC’s cancelled main events
UFC 189: Conor McGregor vs. Jose Aldo (replaced by Chad Mendes)
UFC Fight Night 76: Joe Duffy vs. Dustin Poirier (replaced by Paddy Holohan vs. Louis Smolka). Co-main event of Stipe Miocic vs. Ben Rothwell cancelled.
UFC 193: Robbie Lawler vs. Carlos Condit (replaced by Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm)
UFC Fight Night 79: Benson Henderson vs. Thiago Alves (replaced by Jorge Masvidal)
UFC Fight Night 80: Paige VanZant vs. Joanne Calderwood (replaced by Rose Namajunas)
UFC 196: Fabricio Werdum vs. Cain Velasquez (replaced by Johny Hendricks vs. Stephen Thompson and downgraded to UFC Fight Night 82)
UFC 196: Conor McGregor vs. Rafael dos Anjos (replaced by Nate Diaz)
UFC on FOX 19: Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson (replaced by Darrell Horcher)
UFC 197: Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier (replaced by Ovince St. Preux)
UFC 199: Luke Rockhold vs. Chris Weidman (replaced by Michael Bisping)
UFC 200: Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier (replaced, for now, by Brock Lesnar vs. Mark Hunt)
UFC Fight Night 91: Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Chiesa (replaced by Landon Vannata). Main event changed to John Lineker vs. Michael McDonald.
