Outside Source
With the report first coming from MMA Latinoamerica on Thursday, Said Nurmagomedov has been forced to withdraw from UFC Vegas 113, also known as UFC Fight Night 266. The Russian bantamweight was booked against Javid Basharat (14-2, 1 NC), the elder of the Basharat brothers, on the prelims set for the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. His replacement, Gianni Vazquez (13-5), has confirmed the initial news as well as his status as a new addition to the roster.
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Nurmagomedov, who withdrew for currently undisclosed reasons, has had a great deal of difficulty getting to the UFC cage since he joined the roster in 2018. Thus far, he has only made 11 walks to the Octagon, with 2022 his high-water mark as he appeared thrice that year. Since 2023, he has fought twice, losing both outings to headliner Vinicius Oliveira and Bryce Mitchell. Whether due to injury or an issue for his opponent, Nurmagomedov has seen seven bouts fall through to date as a member of the UFC.
Gianni’s Up Next
The debuting Vazquez has floated around the Latin American scene over the years, making his pro debut in his home country of Mexico in May 2014. The 31-year-old engaged in a one-off under the Combate Global banner in 2021, and he went on to join the Fury Fighting Championship and challenge for the promotion’s belt. Since coming up short to ex-UFC name Edgar Chairez, Vazquez rattled off five victories with Up Next Fighting in California, winning and defending its title before getting the call up.
Britain’s Basharat, by way of Afghanistan, has his back against the wall on Saturday. Having dropped two straight along with a no contest to Victor Henry in 2023, “The Snow Leopard” is winless in over three years now. Before his setbacks, Basharat came into the promotion undefeated, where he rattled off a trio of decision wins over Trevin Jones, Tony Gravely and Mateus Mendonca to establish himself in the crowded division.
UFC Fight Night 266, which also goes by UFC Vegas 113, goes down on Feb. 7 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Bantamweights take center stage in the headliner as Mario Bautista battles the aforementioned Oliveira. In the co-main attraction, flyweights vie for a shot at gold as Amir Albazi battles Kyoji Horiguchi. Additionally, heavyweights Jailton Almeida and Rizvan Kuniev are slated to battle it out, and the main card will be rounded out by a middleweight pairing pitting Michal Oleksiejczuk against Marc-Andre Barriault, one at 135 pounds between Jean Matsumoto and Farid Basharat and open with a light heavyweight banger when Dustin Jacoby faces Julius Walker.
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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