Several fighters announce cancellation, postponement of former UFC London bouts

No longer in London, the UFC’s upcoming show scheduled for March 21 is now struggling to stay intact.

The promotion announced Saturday that next week’s event, originally billed as UFC London, has been relocated amid concerns about the coronavirus with a location to be determined. Taking into account the U.S. government extending a travel ban to the U.K. and Ireland, this has left fighters and fans confused as to how the show will proceed if at all.

UFC President Dana White has given no indication that the show is to be canceled, but several fighters took to social media on Sunday to announce that their fights are either off or postponed.

Flyweights Ashlee Evans-Smith and Molly McCann commented on their Instagram stories that their fight is not happening next Saturday.

“I’ve been in London for about two days, only 24 hours actually on the ground,” Evans-Smith said. “But anyway, fight’s off, postponed, all I really know is that I gotta get back to California yesterday basically, so I’ll keep you updated.”

McCann also spoke out in an Instagram story, calling the situation “mental.”

“So it’s been a mental time for all of us fighters in London and on the London card and it’s still yet—none of us really know what’s going on, only that I’ve seen my opponent’s flying home, on her Instagram,” McCann said. “So to everyone who keeps asking me or wants to know what’s going on, I still don’t know, but she says the fight’s off and it’s postponed to later date, which I don’t have a clue about, but just keeping you updated.”

Marc Diakiese, scheduled to fight former Cage Warriors champion Jai Herbert in a lightweight bout, also announced that his fight has been canceled.

“Unfortunately my fight has been cancelled! I’ve spent money and months away from home preparing, however due to #Coronavirus UFC London won’t be going ahead.

“Obviously health comes first, I hope everyone stays safe at home with their families.”

A featherweight bout between Lerone Murphy and Gabriel Benitez also appears to be off as Murphy announced the cancellation via Instagram.

Devastated to announce my fight has been cancelled due to the corona outbreak. 1 week away from fight night. After 2 trips to Thailand and countless hours in the gym. This was the best I’ve ever felt going into a fight, mentally and physically. Hopefully this will all clear up soon and we will all be back to work!

Unbeaten welterweight Shavkat Rakhmonov was expected to make his UFC debut next Saturday, but that won’t be happening according to a member of his team who wrote on Twitter that Rakhmonov found out at the airport that the card was being moved as he was heading to London and that he does not have a visa required to travel to the U.S.

Rakhmonov was scheduled to fight Bartosz Fabinski.

Danny Roberts also announced that he is out of his welterweight co-main event bout with Nicolas Dalby. He released a statement on Instagram following an initial report by Express.co.uk.

I’m sure that everyone has heard the news by now but it is with frustration that I can confirm that my fight scheduled ‪on 21 March 2020‬ at UFC London is no longer going ahead.

After numerous months abroad, time spent away from family and all the other sacrifices associated with competing at the elite, it goes without saying that my personal frustration is on another level right now. I have worked hard my whole life for these moments and, particularly in light of last year’s events, I was fully focused on putting on an unforgettable show on for the fans in this year’s co-main event.

I live and breathe fighting. I love performing for the fans. I have done everything in my power to make sure this fight happens. However, this is completely out of my control and recognise that the health and safety of the 20,000 people who would be in the O2 Arena ‪on Saturday night‬ is paramount.

Therefore, despite the widespread disappointment, if delaying or moving the competition protects people it’s 100% worth it. Life is all about perspective and in this time of madness, I would urge everyone to spend quality time with their loved ones – that’s certainly what I will be doing. Let’s fight this virus together (but in groups no larger than 500 people). See you soon fight fans

Middleweight Marvin Vettori is currently on his way back to the United States after already traveling to London for the fights. His manager Ali Abdelaziz confirmed to MMA Fighting on Sunday that he is en route at this time and still hopes to compete on March 21. Vettori was expected to face Darren Stewart, who made it clear that he still wanted to compete regardless of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

MMA Fighting will continue to update this post as further cancellations or postponements are announced.