UPDATED (4:16 p.m.): Amanda Nunes’ bantamweight championship fight against Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 213 officially has been canceled because of Nunes’ illness, and the interim middleweight fight between Yoel Romero and Robert Whittaker will be the new main event Saturday night in Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena.
Rob Font, a bantamweight fighter from Woburn, Mass., had his fight against Douglas Silva de Andrade moved from the UFC Fight Pass early prelims to the UFC 213 main card.
UPDATED (3:19 p.m.): ESPN’s Brett Okamoto reported Saturday that Amanda Nunes is out of the UFC 213 main event due to illness.
Multiple sources have told me Amanda Nunes is 100 percent off UFC 213 tonight.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) July 8, 2017
ORIGINAL STORY: The main event for UFC 213 reportedly is in jeopardy.
Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com reported Saturday that Amanda Nunes, who is slated to fight Valentina Shevchenko in a rematch of their UFC 196 bout, is ill, and the fight at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas could be canceled.
Amanda Nunes has been feeling ill this week. She's currently in the hospital. Tonight's main event is in jeopardy. No official word yet.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 8, 2017
And it appears it’s unlikely Nunes will be able to enter the octagon.
Growing sentiment is it will be hard to pull off, but her team and UFC aren't confirming anything at this time.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 8, 2017
While the UFC has yet to release an official word, Helwani expects it soon.
Romero-Whittaker would serve as the main event. Should hear an official word shortly.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 8, 2017
Nunes, of course, is coming off impressive back-to-back victories over Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey and hopes to tighten her grip on a division Rousey previously owned.
Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images
