UFC 228 co-main event canceled; Darren Till makes weight
Image: Yahoo
First reported by ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, the co-main event between women’s flyweight champion Nicco Montano and Valentina Shevchenko at Saturday’s UFC 228 was canceled due to Montano’s hospitalization Friday morning.
No reason has been given for Montano’s condition. Shevchenko made weight Friday morning in Dallas, but ESPN’s Ariel Helwani said that she will not fight another opponent on Saturday.
From the UFC: “As a precautionary measure, UFC flyweight Nicco Montano was transported to a medical facility Friday morning due to health concerns.”
Montano has yet to defend the inaugural title she won after defeating Roxanne Modaferri on a TUF finale show in December 2017. Helwani pointed out this is the second time Shevchenko has had a title fight fall through at the last minute as her UFC 213 clash against bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes was canceled due to Nunes’ sinusitis.
On a positive note, welterweight title challenger Darren Till successfully made weight Friday morning in Dallas as did champion Tyron Woodley. There were doubts about Till due to him missing weight for his last fight against Stephen Thompson.
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.