Freak accident causes UFC 203 fight cancellation; Robbie Lawler/Donald Cerrone fight is off
Photo: Sherdog
A freak accident has caused the cancellation of C.B. Dolloway vs. Francismar Barroso at tonight’s UFC 203 at Cleveland, OH, as Dolloway was injured in an elevator accident at the host hotel.
Dollaway suffered a back injury at some point Friday afternoon when the elevator dropped several floors and then made an immediate stop due to malfunction.
The UFC released this statement:
“UFC announced that C.B. Dollaway has had to withdraw from his scheduled bout at UFC 203 due to an injury he suffered last night as a result of an elevator accident at a hotel in Cleveland. UFC officials have been in communication with hotel management, and the hotel is currently evaluating and investigating issues surrounding the incident.”
The Jason Gonzalez vs. Drew Dober fight that was scheduled to open the show has been moved to the FS1 prelims to replace the Dollaway vs. Barroso fight. The show will now begin at 7:30 PM EST with just one Fight Pass fight: Sean Spencer vs. Yancy Medeiros.
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While Robbie Lawler vs Donald Cerrone hadn’t formally been announced for UFC 205 in Madison Square Garden outside a Dana White radio interview, there was considerable excitment for the possible fight given both guy’s fighting styles.
However, fans will have to wait a bit longer as Lawler has pulled out of the fight, citing needing more time off to prepare after his knockout at the hands of Tyron Woodley. That new bit info comes from Ariel Helwani after TMZ first reported the news about the fight being scratched Friday night.
Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.