OK, injury curse. We get the message. Now stop it!
The upcoming UFC card in Belfast has received yet another change and fight fans with tickets for the November 19 event will be hoping that it’s the final toll that injuries take on the show.
On Wednesday, news broke that one half of the co-main event, James Krause, was forced to withdraw from his lightweight meeting with Ross Pearson after tearing his hamstring in training.
When it rains, it pours https://t.co/p61cRobZe1
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) October 26, 2016
With just over three weeks to go until fight night, the UFC had their work cut out for them but they managed to find a replacement who is willing and able for November 19.
Former Cage Warriors lightweight champion Stevie Ray admirably answered the call and he will step in for an all-British showdown against Pearson.
The 19-6 Scot enjoyed the perfect start to life in the UFC with three straight victories but he came unstuck last month as he dropped a unanimous decision to Alan Patrick in Brazil.
A short notice victory over ‘The Real Deal’ would be Ray’s biggest win to date and would spell real danger for Pearson, who has fought four times already this year but only saw his hand raised on one occasion.
Scotland's @StevenRayMMA gets the call to face England's @RossTheRealDeal at #UFCBelfast! 🎟 ➡️ https://t.co/SoNWw4ddD2 pic.twitter.com/Jqr8VGtKYE
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) October 27, 2016
Last week, the scheduled main event of UFC Belfast was scrapped entirely after SBG welterweight Gunnar Nelson withdrew from the headliner against Dong Hyun Kim with an ankle injury.
It was replaced by a whopper middleweight rematch between Gegard Mousasi and Uriah Hall but the recent history of injuries taking out big fights on these shores will have Irish fans crossing their fingers that this is the last piece of breaking news they read before the opening bell next month.
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