The number of middleweights fighting at UFC 230 has allowed a rather smooth transition to a new co-main event after Luke Rockhold was forced to withdraw from the card.
With Rockhold (16-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) sidelined due to injury, Ronaldo Souza (25-6 MMA, 8-3 UFC) will be shuffled up to the card to fight former UFC middleweight champ Chris Weidman (14-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC). MMAjunkie verified the change with Souza’s management after UFC President Dana White first informed ESPN.com.
“Jacare” was supposed to fight former two-division WSOF champ David Branch in a main card contest, but that fight will no longer take place. A replacement search is underway, with Jared Cannonier being reported as a possible new opponent for Branch.
UFC 230 takes place Nov. 3 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.
With the changes, the latest UFC 230 lineup now includes:
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
- Champ Daniel Cormier vs. Derrick Lewis – for heavyweight title
- Ronaldo Souza vs. Chris Weidman
- David Branch vs. opponent TBA
- Jack Marshman vs. Karl Roberson
- Israel Adesanya vs. Derek Brunson
- Jason Knight vs. Jordan Rinaldi
- Sijara Eubanks vs. Roxanne Modafferi
- Julio Arce vs. Sheymon Moraes
- Lyman Good vs. Ben Saunders
- Matt Frevola vs. Lando Vannata
- Shane Burgos vs. Kurt Holobaugh
- Montel Jackson vs. Brian Kelleher
- Ruslan Magomedov vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima
Full story here:
'Jacare' Souza steps in for Luke Rockhold vs. Chris Weidman at UFC 230