The injury bug strikes again, this time at UFC 320’s featured preliminary bout.
Ozzy Diaz (10-3-0), 34, was scheduled to face highly touted Cameroonian prospect Ateba Gauthier (8-1-0), 23, in the featured prelim bout. He took to Instagram to explain the situation.
“Hey everyone, I have some really tough news to share,” Diaz posted. “After careful consideration and talking with my team and medical professionals, I’ve had to make the heartbreaking decision to pull out of my fight this week. This isn’t a choice I ever thought I’d have to make, but my health and safety have to come first. I truly appreciate all your support and understanding during this time, and I promise to come back stronger soon.
I would like to apologize to the @ufc and also to my opponent @ateba_theassassin . This decision was a hard one.
“But through it all, I trust God’s plan,” Diaz continued. “I believe everything happens for a reason, even when I can’t see it yet. This is just another test, another chapter, and I promise you I will get back up. I’m going to keep fighting, keep believing, and keep pushing forward.
“Thank you to everyone who continues to ride with me. Your support means more than you know. This one hurts im truly heartbroken.”
It is currently unknown if Gauthier will remain on the card.
But for now, UFC 320 is now:
MAGOMED ANAKALEV (20-1-1) VS. ALEX PEREIRA (12-3-0)
MERAB DVALISHVILI (20-4-0) VS. COREY SANDHAGEN (18-5-0)
JIRI PROCHAZKA (31-5-1) VS. KHALIL ROUNTREE (14-6-0)
JOSH EMMETT (19-5-0) VS. YOUSSEF ZALAL (17-5-1)
MACY CHIASSON (10-4-0) VS. YANA SANTOS (16-8-0)
EDMEN SHAHBAZYAN (15-5-0) VS. ANDRE MUNIZ (24-7-0)
CHRIS GUTIERREZ (22-6-2) VS. FARID BASHARAT (13-0-0)
ATEBA ABEGA GAUTIER (8-1-0) VS. TBD
#14 ABUS MAGOMEDOV (28-6-1) VS. JOE PYFER (14-3-0)
DANIEL SANTOS (13-2-0) VS. JOO SANG YOO (9-0-0)
PATCHY MIX (20-2-0) VS. JAKUB WIKLACZ (16-3-2)
PUNHALE SORIANO (11-4-0) VS. NIKOLAY VERETENNIKOV (13-6-0)
RAMIZ BRAHIMAJ (12-5-0) VS. AUSTIN VANDERFORD (13-2-0)
VERONICA HARDY (9-5-1) VS. BROGAN WALKER (7-4-0)
Enjoy the fights.
