An injury has forced Michael Chiesa out of his UFC Fight Night 91 headlining bout opposite Tony Ferguson.
UFC officials confirmed the fighter’s withdrawal to MMAWeekly.com, following an initial report by MMAJunkie.com. Chiesa then posted details of the back injury that forced him out of the fight.
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“A back injury has forced me out of my scheduled fight for July 13th against Tony Ferguson,” wrote Chiesa. “During a routine training session, I felt a pop and shift in my lower back, followed by very, very sharp pains that left me on the floor. I found out (Monday), I have a fully ruptured disk. I will undergo 8 weeks of physical therapy and rehab to hopefully avoid having to go under the knife and get back surgery.”
Chiesa had been making huge strides in the UFC lightweight division recently. He has won his last three fights, leading to a No. 10 ranking. A victory over Ferguson, who is currently ranked No. 3 in the division, would have rocketed him into the mix for a title shot.
The UFC is currently searching for a suitable replacement to keep Ferguson on the UFC Fight Night 91 fight card, which takes place on July 13 in Sioux Falls, S.D.
