Conor McGregor needs a new opponent for UFC 196
In a cruel plot twist for one of the year’s most anticipated fights, UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos suffered a broken foot in training last week and is out of his Saturday, March 5th main event against UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor, confirmed by MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani.
According to Helwani, UFC is looking for a short-notice replacement for McGregor which should sound familar as a similar situation happened last July when Jose Aldo had to pull out of his fight with the Irishman due to a broken rib. RDA (25-7) was looking for the second defense of his lightweight gold, while McGregor (19-2) was to make his UFC debut at 155 pounds.
If they can’t, Holly Holm’s first defense of her women’s bantamweight title against Miesha Tate would be bumped up to the main event. The show also features our Tom Lawlor returning to action vs. Corey Anderson and Diego Sanchez vs. Jim Miller.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.