With just over two weeks until UFC 206 takes place at the Air Canada Center in Toronto, the event has lost its big main event fight. Originally it was set to be Daniel Cormier vs Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson for the light heavyweight title, but we’ve just learned that Cormier has been pulled from the card with an unspecified injury. At this point, word is Johnson will remain on the card and fight a new opponent.
Johnson put up a humorous Instagram featuring his adorable puppy, but you could tell he was frustrated.
I wish nothing but the best for DC and I hope you have a full recovery champ…
— Rumble Johnson (@Anthony_Rumble) November 25, 2016
We imagine UFC fans in Toronto are also frustrated. For months, Canadian superstar Georges St. Pierre worked with the UFC to try and negotiate a spot on the card, but the two sides were unable to make a deal. Things were looking up for the card after two fights from the stacked UFC 205 card were moved over to 206 and a featherweight contender match between Anthony Pettis and Max Holloway was added. But then one of those UFC 205 fights, Tim Kennedy vs Rashad Evans, was cancelled when the Toronto athletic commission wouldn’t license Evans. And now the event has lost its main event title fight.
But the UFC has been known to turn lemons into lemonade in the past. Tim Kennedy could end up fighting Gegard Mousasi, which would be pretty cool. Both Jimi Manuwa and Ryan Bader are coming out of their recent fights relatively unscathed, and could possibly fight Johnson. And with guys like Anderson Silva on the roster willing to hop in at a moment’s notice (he fought Cormier on a few days notice at UFC 200), you never know what else could develop.
Then again, it hasn’t always worked out. This weekend’s UFC Fight Night Australia card is headlined by Derek Brunson vs Robert Whittaker, the result of the UFC being unable to pull another main event out of nowhere after Luke Rockhold vs. Jacare Souza got scrapped. So it could go either way. We’ll let you know how it shakes out.
