UFC 279 has new face after Chechen star misses weight for main event

The main card at UFC 279 now looks completely different after Khamzat Chimaev missing weight meant a string of fights had to be switched Read Full Article at RT.com

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Sep 10, 2022 - 14:00
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UFC 279 has new face after Chechen star misses weight for main event

The MMA promotion's president Dana White hailed the new card

Chaos at UFC 279 continued after Khamzat Chimaev missing weight meant the main event and a string of other fights had to be changed to salvage the card.

After the UFC had to cancel a press conference for the first time due to scuffles backstage involving Chimaev and Kevin Holland on Thursday, Chechen-Swede Chimaev then caused further drama by coming 7.5 pounds over the 170lb for his fight with Nate Diaz which his team put down to a "medical issue". 

Former lightweight title challenger Dustin Poirier showed himself to be ready to fly out to Vegas to save the main event if necessary, but quick thinking from White and Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell made that unnecessary.

In short, Diaz will now face Tony Ferguson in a meeting of veteran legends, as Chimaev can settle his beef with Kevin Holland which escalated backstage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Thursday. 

Furthermore, Ferguson's scheduled opponent Li Jingliang will do battle with Daniel Rodriguez, and White later spoke out on the developments in a video the UFC released on Friday.

"Obviously, when something like this happens, you have guys who trained for another guy for a long time. Getting these guys to agree on different [opponents] can be tough," White noted. 

"Nate Diaz and Tony Ferguson, the fans have wanted to see this one forever. And it's going to happen now before Nate leaves the UFC. 

"Kevin Holland and Khamzat Chimaev actually got into it backstage yesterday, and ironically they will now fight on Saturday night. Both fights will be five rounds. Li Jingliang versus Daniel Rodriguez is also a fun fight. It literally could not have played out any better," White claimed.

Capping off a week to remember where he also clashed with Paulo Costa in the gym, Chimaev was criticised for his nonchalant attitude when coming in overweight.

Smiling and shrugging his shoulders, he then tweeted a photoshopped snap of himself and close friend Darren Till bloated and blamed his mishap on the scales on the Liverpudlian.

At the face off for his new fight with Holland, the 27-year-old was booed by the crowd who he then stuck his middle finger up at.