The Associated Press is reporting that former UFC middleweight champion, Chris Weidman, has had to withdraw from his UFC 199 title fight against Luke Rockhold. The source that the Associated Press is citing said that Weidman is out due to an undisclosed injury, and was speaking condition of anonymity, because the annoucement of Weidman’s withdrawl has not yet been made official by Zuffa.
Chris Weidman Out Of UFC 199 Title Fight
The title bout between Weidman and Rockhold was going to be a rematch of their UFC 194 title fight back in December, where Rockhold defeated the previously unbeaten Wediman to claim UFC gold.
If Weidman does officially pull out of the rematch, the UFC still has several top contenders that could potentially replace Weidman. The number four ranked middleweight, Michael Bisping, recently threw his name in the hat via Twitter.
Training camps separate the boys from the men. This sport isn’t for everyone. 2 weeks notice? I’m down!!! @ufc #realfighter #fightersfighter
— michael (@bisping) May 17, 2016
I’ve seen less brittle Pringles than some of these middle weights. #usada
— michael (@bisping) May 17, 2016
The UFC could also potentially give the fight to Jacare Souza (number two ranked middleweight), who is coming off of a first round decimation of Vitor Belfort, and didn’t appear to take much damage in their fight.
Other top middleweight contender, Yoel Romero, would be a suitable replacement, but is still in the midst of severing a suspension for failing a post-fight drug test after his unanimous decision win over Souza in December.
Romero can’t fight until mid-July per USADA. https://t.co/xBgPAD3A7n
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) May 17, 2016
Main Photo
