LAS VEGAS (AP) – Bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes was scratched from her title defense against Valentina Shevchenko after being hospitalized Saturday a few hours before UFC 213.
The UFC cited “illness” – without elaborating – in its statement.
Yoel Romero’s interim middleweight title bout against Robert Whittaker becomes the main event of the pay-per-view show at T-Mobile Arena, although the UFC also offered ticket refunds to fans.
After Nunes was hospitalized, UFC President Dana White said 115-pound champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk lobbied him to give her a late-notice fight against the 135-pound Shevchenko.
The Nevada Athletic Commission would never allow such a thing, but Jedrzejczyk and Shevchenko already fought each other three times in muay thai competition during their martial arts careers.