TWO UFC COMPETITORS have been pulled from their respective UFC 223 fights on medical grounds after suffering injuries during Conor McGregor’s attack on a fighter bus on Thursday.
Lightweight Michael Chiesa was cut to the face and head by shattered glass during McGregor’s rampage, and though he was deemed not to require stitches in hospital, was subsequently withdrawn from his fight with Anthony Pettis after medical assessment by the New York State Athletic Commission.
Ray Borg has also been withdrawn on medical grounds: the number three-ranked flyweight was sat alongside Chiesa on the bus, and reported to hospital hours later with an eye problem believed also to have been inflicted by a flying shard of glass.
Chiesa and Borg, along with respective opponents Anthony Pettis and Brandon Moreno, will go without a fight or paycheck this weekend as it stands – this despite having completed full training camps.
A decision was made by the New York State Athletic Commission to pull me from UFC 223. I’m devastated to say the least. @Showtimepettis I hope to run this match up ASAP, June 9th in your backyard. That’s all I have to say for now. Much love.
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) April 6, 2018
The same fate has befallen Alex Caceres in slightly different circumstances: his fight with McGregor’s SBG gym-mate, Artem Lobov, was cancelled due to Lobov’s role in Thursday’s fracas.
UFC 223 was scheduled to have 12 fights – a figure which has now been reduced to nine with the weigh-in still to come.
The NYPD are investigating the incident at Barclays Center along with McGregor’s role in it, and wish to speak with the UFC lightweight champion. No warrant has been issued for his arrest.
He’s 5’11, 18 stone. And he plays full back & centre. Well thats not scary to play against at all…
@Harry O’Callaghan: i thought u said 8 stone i was like ‘thats not heavy at all…’
I don’t know if its just the yanks talking a good game, but I have a bad feeling about this match. Seems like a decent US team I’m told
@Paul Kennedy: you mean they will beat us?
@Thomas Lyster: no they probably won’t, in fact more than likely won’t, but they are on a good run.Our 2/3 string always struggle to put a good performance together . I just hope it isn’t a banana skin after a great year.
@Paul Kennedy: they are starting 4 of the 15 starters from their last WC qualifier. Who told you it was a decent team.
@Paul Kennedy: agree…it will be a genuine test of our depth, of our 2nd / 3rd string. We’ve some quality players playing but it’s a bit cobbled together…but like England last week against Japan…the difference for us is that we don’t have the cavalry like Owen Farrell to come off the bench to rescue us if he goes tits up in the first half
@Paul Kennedy: look Ireland do have to turn up but to be worried when the pack could be Ireland’s starting pack when injuries occur and the back line is full of danger is overkill if you ask me . Ireland will play at pace that guys playing in the US domestic game just can’t handle ..
@Limón Madrugada: the front row is 3rd choice, back row 2nd – 3rd string .I’m probably being overly pessimistic and we will run out comfortable winners. I would just like to see porter , earls, and maybe on stander on bench ,in case it ‘ll goes to shit. However thats the conundrum.We need depth, so need extended squad. The games in autumn against tier 2 teams always seem to descend into messy dogfights.Noway are usa better than us,but that doesn’t mean they won’t beat us.