David Branch reacts to losing Yoel Romero as opponent at UFC on FOX 28

David Branch was understandably upset that arguably the biggest fight of his career has been scratched in the middle of training camp.

Branch (21-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC) was scheduled to fight Yoel Romero (12-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) at UFC on FOX 28 next month, but an injury to UFC middleweight champ Robert Whittaker (19-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) caused the UFC to reshuffle matchmaking, and as a result Romero now meets Luke Rockhold (16-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) for the interim 185-pound belt at UFC 221.

Aside from Whittaker, the biggest loser to come from the situation is former WSOF champ Branch, who is left without an opponent and in a position of uncertainty. He was disappointed to learn of the news, especially because it came through the pipeline in the middle of the night.

Branch took to social media and provided a reaction to the news, and it seemed he was trying to keep in high spirits (via Instagram):

Damn…. @aliabdelaziz000 @ufc @mickmaynard2 @danawhite I wish Yoel and Lucas the best, speedy recovery champ. ??

A post shared by David Branch (@davidbranch32) on Jan 13, 2018 at 4:33am PST

“I just got up to take a (expletive) piss, man, and I found out about all this (expletive) right now. I’ve been training my (expletive) ass off, man. I’m away from my family right now, sleeping in the (expletive) gym, sleeping in my gym. (Expletive), man, damn. Things happen. We get injured sometimes. These guys are all real fighters, man. This is the nature of the business. I was just really stoked to fight Yoel. Really excited to right some wrongs in my last fight. These things happen. I’m going to be back in the octagon soon guys. I don’t know against who. I guess I’m just going to go home and sleep now. I don’t know what’s going on. This (expletive) is crazy.”

UFC on FOX 28 takes place Feb. 24 at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla. The event’s main card airs live on FOX following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Following a stoppage loss to Rockhold in his return to the octagon at UFC Fight Night 116 in September, Branch said he was excited to try to get back on track against one of the most feared middleweights in the world in Romero. It remains to be seen if he’ll get a replacement opponent for UFC on FOX 28.

For more on UFC on FOX 28, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.