Without a high-profile main event, UFC’s PPV on March 3rd could be canceled…
The UFC is at risk of having to cancel their planned PPV on March 3rd, 2018, from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The card was initially to feature UFC featherweight champion, Max Holloway, defending his title against Frankie Edgar. Holloway suffered an ankle injury and was forced to withdraw, however. A replacement fight for Edgar with Ortega has been verbally agreed to but it is still not clear if it will take place on March 3rd or another date. When Ortega and Edgar do fight, however, there will be no interim belt on the line considering Holloway’s last title defense was only back at UFC 218. It’s not as though he is an inactive champion.
When Ortega and Edgar do fight, however, there will be no interim belt on the line considering Holloway’s last title defense was only back at UFC 218. It’s not as though he is an inactive champion.
The new UFC owners are hesitant to hold a PPV without a title fight, however, so the search has been on to find such a fight to headline this show. So far, however, a replacement main event has yet to be scheduled, leading many to believe the card could be canceled.
Max Holloway Pulls Out; Replacements Unwilling or Unavailable
So while Ortega and Edgar will fight for the right to face the champion at a later date, their title-eliminator bout is being deemed not main event worthy at the moment.
Talks had been underway to book TJ Dillashaw vs. Cody Garbrandt II on March 3rd to save the show but Dillashaw’s team shot that down.
Further talk had the UFC trying to book Cris Cyborg vs. Yana Kunitskaya as well, but those talks evidently didn’t get anywhere. Finally, the UFC shot down all rumors that they were in serious talks with Nate Diaz about him fighting on the show.
TJ Dillashaw “Not Ready”; Cyborg Not An Option
Dillashaw offered up the following explanation for turning down a fight with the former bantamweight champion on 4 weeks notice:
“They called me, and we were talking about (fighting at UFC 222 against Garbrandt),” Dillashaw said. “Anything’s possible, but it just depends. It’s definitely not something I want to do right now.
“I want to enjoy my time with my kid and heal up and get healthy. Obviously, if they need it desperately – that was something that was in talks – but it wasn’t the case. They weren’t able to do anything (for a bigger offer).”
Edgar vs Ortega is all but done. The question now is whether it’s the main event or not. If UFC can’t find a title fight to headline 3/3 (and thus far no luck), there’s a good chance they’ll turn the PPV into a Fight Night and have Edgar-Ortega be a 5-rounder. (Cont’d)
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) February 6, 2018
Ariel Helwani on Potential UFC 222 Cancellation
MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani is reporting the fight card is getting close to being canceled. Without a title fight they could turn the card into a Fight Night non-PPV, but seem uneasy about doing that as well.
“Edgar vs Ortega is all but done. The question now is whether it’s the main event or not. If UFC can’t find a title fight to headline 3/3 (and thus far no luck), there’s a good chance they’ll turn the PPV into a Fight Night and have Edgar-Ortega be a 5-rounder. (Cont’d)”
Doesn’t appear as though Dillashaw-Garbrandt will happen on 3/3. They also tried to book Cyborg-Kunitskaya but that’s not happening either. Canceling the card altogether is also on the table. They tried to book Edgar-Ortega on the Orlando card to beef that up but it’s too soon.
So, lots still up in the air. Last resort is to cancel the card. They’d rather not turn it into a Fight Night but they’ll have to if they can’t produce a title fight and right now there just aren’t many title fight options for less than a month away. Developing.” – Ariel Helwani on UFC 222
