Back injury forces Chiesa out of main event bout with Ferguson
Another UFC main event has been impacted by injury.
Lightweight contender Michael Chiesa suffered a ruptured disc in his back and will be unable to fight Tony Ferguson in the UFC Fight Night 91 headliner on July 13 in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Chiesa announced the news on his Twitter feed Monday.
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) June 27, 2016
“During a routine training session, I felt a pop and shift in my lower back followed by very, very sharp pains that left me on the floor,” he wrote. “I found out today I have a fully ruptured (disc). I will undergo eight weeks of physical therapy and rehab to hopefully avoid having to go under the knife and get back surgery.
“Thanks to everyone that supports me, my teammates and coaches, the city of Spokane and all my fans around the world. I’ll be back stronger.”
UFC officials will seek a replacement opponent for Ferguson, who himself was forced to pull out of a scheduled bout against top contender Khabib Nurmagomedov in April due to a lung issue.
Ferguson has won seven straight fights, but hasn’t competed since a second-round submission of Edson Barboza in December.
The card, scheduled to air on Fox Sports 1, also features a bantamweight bout between John Lineker and Michael McDonald.
Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj
