Nate Diaz vs Tony Ferguson now headlines UFC 279, Chimaev vs Holland, Rodriguez vs Li
It has been an extremely chaotic 24-hours for the UFC as most of the UFC 279 main card has been rearranged.
As if yesterday’s melee forcing the UFC 279 press conference to be cancelled abruptly by UFC President Dana White, today’s weigh-ins proved to cause further damage.
Khamzat Chimaev, who was scheduled to meet Nate Diaz in the event’s main event, came in 7.5 pounds overweight of the welterweight limit of 171-pounds.
As a result, Diaz did not want to take the fight, citing that Chimaev was “cheating.”
A last-minute Hail Mary allowed for Chimaev to move down the card and fight Kevin Holland, while Diaz will now meet Tony Ferguson in the new main event.
Ferguson was originally scheduled to face Li Jingliang in a welterweight bout in the co-main event.
Li will now face Holland’s originally scheduled opponent, Daniel Rodriguez.
Rodriguez vs. Holland was originally booked as a 180-pound catchweight bout and Li weighed in today 170.5 pounds, while Rodriguez weighed 179 prior to the fight card changes.
Ceremonial weigh-ins will begin at 7pm ET. Watch below.
