Over the past weeks, UFC fans have had some fun by throwing around the word "cursed" in regards to the UFC 108 card that has been beset by a series of injuries, illnesses and other issues that have had UFC matchmaker Joe Silva scrambling to fill it.
During Wednesday's press conference for the show, even UFC President Dana White got it on the act, saying there were "97" fights in the last couple months that fell apart.
But apparently, the latest scratch could be the most serious.
White told the assembled media at the MGM Grand that Steve Cantwell, who pulled out of his scheduled fight with Vladimir Matyushenko on Tuesday, was facing an issue so serious that he may have to call it quits.
"Cantwell has some medical problems, and he might not ever fight again," White said, declining to elaborate on the fighter's problem.
Cantwell, who turned just 23 years old earlier this month, is 7-3 in his pro career, but just 1-2 since joining the UFC in Dec. 2008.
In August of 2008, he won the WEC light-heavyweight championship by knocking out Brian Stann before the division was discontinued and its fighters were moved to the UFC. He defeated Razak Al-Hassan in his octagon debut before losing two straight decisions, one to Luiz Cane and then Stann in the final chapter of their trilogy.
The UFC was not able to find a replacement to face Matyushenko on short notice, forcing him off the event.
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