Injuries are a part of the sport and have caused multiple fights to be rescheduled. However, in 2020, the UFC had an additional headache of the COVID-19 pandemic which saw multiple fights canceled or postponed. As we head into the new year, it appears as if those problems are here to stay. Wellington Turman is the latest fighter to withdraw from his bout next month due to illness. 

The 24-year-old Brazilian prospect was set to take on Aliaskhab Khizriev at UFC Fight Night on February 6th. The event is headlined by Frankie Edgar taking on fellow bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen. 

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Wellington Turman is an exciting prospect at middleweight 

The Brazilian fighter issued a statement on his Instagram page sharing bad news with his fans. He said, “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to fight on February 6th. I got pneumonia and I won’t have time to recover and get well (for) the fight. I am very upset about this. I wanted to fight again soon, but there are things that are out of our command and health always comes first. Thanks to everyone who is with me. I will recover and come back as soon as possible”

Turman was hospitalized on Wednesday and diagnosed with atypical pneumonia frame. It is reported that he is still hospitalized and is in stable condition. 

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Turman made his UFC debut in July 2019. He succumbed to a split decision loss against Karl Roberson. He then bounced back impressively and secured an impressive win over Markus Perez in November 2019. 

Wellington fought once in 2020 in a losing effort to Andrew Sanchez. The fight against Khizriev would have been a good opportunity for Wellington to bounce back with a win against a fighter who would have been fighting for just the second time in the UFC. Khizriev is undefeated at 13-0 and made his UFC debut on Dana White’s Contender Series in September 2020. 

It remains to be seen whether or not the UFC finds someone else for Khizriev on the February card or if they let Turman heal up so the two men can fight at a later date.