On April 25, UFC flyweight Patrick “Paddy” Holohan announced his retirement from mixed martial arts due to a rare blood disorder. The Irishman, a training partner of featherweight champion Conor McGregor, was scheduled to face Willie Gates at UFC Fight Night 87 in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on May 8.
Friday evening, the UFC announced that Japan’s Ulka Sasaki will step in as Holohan’s replacement against Gates.
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Sasaki (18-3-2) is coming off back-to-back losses for the first time in his six-year fighting career. The 26-year-old hopes to break out of the recently slump by defeating Gates on short notice.
Gates (12-6) is coming off a loss in his last outing and faces a new opponent. With the nickname “Whoop Ass,” it’s no secret what his intentions are when he faces Sasaki.
UFC Fight Night 87: Overeem vs. Arlovski takes place at Ahoy Rotterdam on May 8. The fight card is headlined by a heavyweight contender bout between former champion Andrei Arlovski and third-ranked Alistair Overeem. The event will be the first that the UFC has hosted in the Netherlands.
