UFC Lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos has been forced to withdraw from the main event of UFC 196 after succumbing to a foot injury.
The 31-year-old Brazilian broke his foot in a training incident almost three weeks ago, but officially withdrew on Tuesday after his team deemed his injury too severe to overcome.
The likelihood that an opponent will be found for McGregor is slim given the timeframe and all markets on UFC 196’s main event have been suspended.
The Brazilian believed he would be ready for the March 5 main event, but was unable to get himself in prime condition for the bout.
According to dos Anjos’ coach Rafael Cordeiro, RDA will not require surgery on his injured foot, but the lightweight champion has been unable to place any weight on his foot since the injury.
“I am devastated,” Cordeiro said
“We were preparing well for this fight and we were ready.”
This is not the first time an opponent who holds a UFC title has postponed a fight with McGregor.
Last year Jose Aldo called off his fight against the Irishman just eleven days before UFC 189.
American Chad Mendes was able to step up at short notice and fill the void left by Aldo, but he proved to be easy fodder for McGregor.
Ironically, Aldo was the man identified as the replacement for dos Anjos once the UFC were made aware of the injury.
Jose Aldo’s coach Andre Pederneiras said the company contacted him directly about bringing in his man on short notice to fight McGregor.
“Dana [White] called me, telling what happened and asking if Aldo was in shape to fight. I said he wasn’t and that there wasn’t enough time, and unfortunately he wouldn’t be able to fight next week.” Pedernerias said.
With dos Anjos gone and no replacement yet named, there have been several fighters putting their hand up to face the Notorious one at UFC 196.
Former UFC fighter Cathal Pendred believes that only two men will be ready to step into the octagon at short notice – Nate Diaz and Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone.
Despite fighting in the main event on Sunday in Pittsburgh, Donald Cerrone’s team has contacted the UFC about the fight.
Cerrone was the man that lost spectacularly to dos Anjos back in December, but before that was on an eight fight win streak and looked great on his fighting return against Alex Oliveira.
He won the bout in just under two minutes.
Cerrone and McGregor are no strangers to each other either.
After McGregor’s infamous Go Big press conference where the two men traded barbs before a worldwide audience, fight fans were salivating at the prospect of Correne and McGregor battling it out for the lightweight title.
Correne was unable to overcome dos Anjos for the title, but after the injury to the champion this fight may be the ideal one at short notice.
UFC firebrand Nate Diaz is another man mooted for the fight.
Diaz has had McGregor in his sights since the Irishman tweeted that he wants his prospective opponents to ‘line up with their hands out’ and ‘beg him’.
In an expletive filled rant following a victory over Michael Johnson after a year out of the fighting game, Diaz left no one at home or in the arena under any illusions as to who he is targeting next.
“Conor McGregor, you’re taking everything I worked for, mother f*cker. I’m gonna fight your f*cking ass. You know what’s the real fight, what’s the real money fight – me.” Diaz said in his post-fight interview.
“Not these clowns that you already punked at the press conference.
“Ain’t nobody wants to see that. You know you can beat them already. It’s an easy fight. You want the real sh*t. Right here.”
The 30 year old American tweeted cheekily that McGregor would have to ‘get on his knees and beg’ Diaz to fight him in the main event – which was undoubtedly a response to the Irishman’s earlier jab at future opponents.
There is no question that fight fans would be satisfied if Diaz is the man that is called up at short notice.
An announcement on McGregor’s opponent is expected to be made by the end of the week.
