Rashad Evans and Tim Kennedy to receive UFC 205 show money, but Kennedy will not fight

A middleweight bout between Rashad Evans and Tim Kennedy is officially off Saturday’s UFC 205, but both fighters will receive their show money.

Unfortunately for Kennedy (18-5 MMA, 3-1 UFC), a replacement opponent will not be sought after Evans (19-5-1 MMA, 14-5-1 UFC) was forced off the event.

“The UFC organization was notified today that the New York State Athletic Commission has denied Rashad Evans a license to compete at UFC 205 due to a medical issue,” the UFC told MMAjunkie in a statement. “Evans’ scheduled bout against Tim Kennedy this coming Saturday, November 12 in New York, will be removed from the fight card.

“However, both athletes will receive their show money. There are currently no plans to replace this bout.”

UFC 205 takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The event’s main card airs live on pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

As previously reported, UFC President Dana White today told ESPN.com the New York State Athletic Commission, which oversees Saturday’s pay-per-view card, pulled Evans from the card due to concerns over his medical paperwork.

Evans subsequently told MMAFighting.com that the NYSAC requested additional tests after an Oct. 19 MRI came back with irregular results, but despite claiming to pass the tests, the commission informed him Tuesday he wouldn’t be allowed to fight.

Kennedy told MMAjunkie outgoing UFC matchmaker Joe Silva told him to continue to cut weight as though he would be fighting on Saturday, and he immediately took to Twitter to call out champ Michael Bisping, Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz. The promotion’s announcement officially nixes those opportunities.

Upon legalizing MMA in New York, the state implemented insurance requirements that gave fighters $1 million of coverage against traumatic brain injury. The premiums added almost $44,000 to the UFC’s cost of promoting the event.

Evans hoped to rebound from a two-fight skid by dropping to the middleweight division, where he was slated to meet Kennedy, who hasn’t fought since a controversial loss to Yoel Romero in 2014.

For more on UFC 205, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.