In an startling turn of occasions, the exceedingly expected UFC Battle Night 226, set to energize the Accor Field in Paris this Saturday, has been hit with a twofold blow as two exciting matchups have been constrained to pull back.
The featherweight division sees a void as the promising Lucas Almeida (14-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) reported by means of Instagram that he would not be able to step into the octagon against France’s claim William Gomis (12-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC). Fans had been enthusiastically anticipating this clash, which was balanced to be one of the standout attractions of the six main-card fights.
Meanwhile, the bantamweight landscape has been similarly altered. Muin Gafurov (18-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) has been forced to bow out of his scheduled match against France’s Taylor Lapilus (18-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC) due to visa complications, as reported by various French news outlets, including La Sueur. This last-minute setback has sent shockwaves through the UFC community, leaving fans and pundits alike wondering about the potential replacement options to keep the event’s local stars in the spotlight.
As the UFC promotion scrambles to salvage the situation, the exact alternatives remain shrouded in mystery, with just six days remaining until the event. The stakes are high, and the race is on to secure compelling contenders who can fill the shoes of these fallen fighters and deliver the excitement fans have been yearning for.
Despite these unexpected twists, the show must go on, and the revised UFC Fight Night 226 lineup promises no shortage of action:
MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 3 p.m. ET)
– Ciryl Gane vs. Serghei Spivac
– Manon Fiorot vs. Rose Namajunas
– Thiago Moises vs. Benoit Saint-Denis
– Bogdan Guskov vs. Volkan Oezdemir
– William Gomis vs. To Be Announced (TBA)
– Yanis Ghemmouri vs. Caolan Loughran
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, noon ET)
– Morgan Charriere vs. Manolo Zecchini
– Taylor Lapilus vs. To Be Announced (TBA)
– Jacqueline Cavalcanti vs. Zarah Fairn
– Nora Cornolle vs. Joselyne Edwards
– Ange Loosa vs. Rhys McKee
– Farid Basharat vs. Kleydson Rodrigues
With the stage set for an unforgettable night of MMA action, the fans’ anticipation remains undiminished, despite the curveballs that have been thrown their way. As the fighters prepare to step into the spotlight, all eyes are on Paris, waiting to see how this unfolding drama will culminate on fight night.