UFC welterweight contenders Rory MacDonald and Hector Lombard not only lost their UFC 186 co-headlining slot, but they also lost the matchup itself.
As reported earlier today, UFC officials removed MacDonald (18-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) vs. Lombard (35-4-1 MMA, 4-2 UFC) from the April 25’s co-headlining spot. In its place is a title fight between flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson (21-2-1 MMA, 9-1-1 UFC) and Kyoji Horiguchi (15-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC).
UFC officials didn’t initially specify a reason for the change to the card, which airs on pay-per-view from Montreal’s Bell Centre on April 25.
However, in a statement subsequently sent to MMAjunkie, officials said injuries weren’t an issue. Instead, they want to go a different way with the matchmaking.
“Given the recent change in welterweight fights on other major fight cards, the UFC is pursuing a new fight for Rory at an event to be announced,” the statement read.
No further details were given.
MacDonald, who’s ranked No. 3 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA welterweight rankings, had been promised a title shot in 2014 after a win over Tarec Saffiedine, which moved him to 8-1 over his past nine fights. However, UFC officials ultimately broke the promise and opted for an immediate rematch between new champ Robbie Lawler and ex-titleholder Johny Hendricks (though that fight also was recently scrapped).
With MacDonald now awaiting his next assignment, No. 8-ranked Lombard also now needs a new opponent.
For more on UFC 186, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.
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