I honestly can’t believe. We were just a few days away from UFC 223, and then bam! Anothery injury. Worst part is it wasn’t April Fools. In today’s MMA odds and ends, I write about the scrapped main event for UFC 223, as well as another scrapped fight for another April card.
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Max Holloway, UFC 223
Some of the worst news imaginable fell late Sunday evening, when UFC president announced interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson has a knee injury and is out of UFC 223. In his place will be UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway, who will step up on short notice to take on Khabib Nurmagomedov for the undisputed UFC lightweight title. The card takes place this coming Saturday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. For those wondering, Ferguson will be stripped of his interim title. Holloway (19-3) is currently riding a 12-fight win streak and is 15-3 overall in the UFC. Nurmagomedov (25-0) is undefeated in MMA and has won nine-straight fights in the UFC, dominating nearly every opponent he’s faced along the way. Both of these fighters are amazing but Nurmagomedov is bigger and stronger, and will be heavily favored by most to win this bout. The odds have already been released for this fight by MMAOddsbreaker.com’s own Nick Kalikas, with Nurmagomedov opening at -505 and Holloway at +365.
Muslim Salikhov vs. Ricky Rainey, UFC on FOX 29
An injury to Muslim Salikhov has removed him from the upcoming UFC on FOX 29 card. Now his opponent Muslim Salikhov will fight UFC newcomer Ricky Rainey, which the promotion itself made official. The card takes place Saturday, April 14 at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona, and this welterweight bout will be on the prelims. Salikhov (13-2) had an 11-fight win streak heading into his UFC debut but was tapped out by Alex Garcia in a disappointing UFC debut. Rainey (13-4) is on a two-fight win streak overall and went 5-2 in Bellator, which is where he fought last. Despite Rainey’s win streak, I still expect Salikhov to be favored heading into this fight as bettors typically back Russian fighters.
