URGENT UPDATE: The highly anticipated UFC 319 pay-per-view event has suffered a significant blow, losing three major fights in just two days. The chaos began on Friday, when middleweight fighter Bryan Battle (12-2) missed the middleweight limit by a staggering four pounds. His scheduled match against Nursulton Ruziboev (36-9-2) has now been officially scrapped. This marks the second consecutive time Battle has failed to make weight, despite moving up a weight class for Saturday’s event.
The implications of Battle’s weight miss are profound, not only for his career but for fans eagerly awaiting the showdown. At just 30 years old, Battle has a commendable record of 7-1 in the UFC, making this setback particularly disappointing for spectators and the organization alike.
In addition to this shocking development, the UFC 319 card has also lost a crucial welterweight finale bout from “The Ultimate Fighter.” Rodrigo Sezinando was forced to withdraw from his fight against Daniil Donchenko due to an injury. UFC officials have confirmed that this bout will be rescheduled, but no specific date has been announced yet.
Further compounding the issues, a fan-favorite lightweight contest between Diego Ferreira and King Green has also been canceled due to Green’s injury. Fans have taken to social media to express their disappointment as this matchup was highly anticipated.
Fortunately for UFC, the event will still feature a high-stakes main event. The middleweight title fight between Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev remains intact, with both fighters successfully making weight. Chimaev weighed in at 183 pounds, which is two pounds below the limit, ensuring that the championship bout will proceed as planned.
In a proactive move, the UFC had middleweight contender Caio Borralho weigh in as a backup for the main event, although it currently appears his services will not be needed.
As the clock ticks down to UFC 319, fans are left to wonder how these last-minute cancellations will affect the event’s overall excitement and viewership. With the fight card now reshaped, all eyes will be on the main event as fans hope for a thrilling conclusion to an already tumultuous build-up.
Stay tuned for the latest updates on UFC 319 as this story develops.
