UFC 293 Fight Cancellation: Israel Adesanya’s Dream Card Suffers First Casualty as MMA Star Pulls Out Due to Surgery

It’s now official! UFC Middleweights Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland are going to headline the UFC 293 PPV in Sydney, Australia. This event will mark ‘Stylebender’s 11th consecutive title defense – against UFC’s #5 Middleweight Strickland. After a myriad of verbal jabs and call-outs, UFC and Dana White finally seem to be interested in putting it all together.

However, amid all the buzz that this announcement has generated, there’s one fighter who has lost their spot on the UFC 293 PPV. Who is this fighter? Well, she’s none other than #12 ranked flyweight Casey O’Neill. The excitement surrounding the highly anticipated UFC 293 event took an unexpected turn as the Australian flyweight was forced to withdraw from her scheduled bout due to injury. O’Neill’s exit has cast a shadow over the event, leaving both fans and fighters disappointed. This unexpected setback marks the first casualty of Adesanya’s dream event.

Injury forces Casey O’Neill out of UFC 293 PPV in Sydney

Amidst the buzz surrounding UFC 293, fans were looking forward to Casey O’Neill’s appearance on the card. The Australian flyweight was scheduled to compete against Viviane Araujo in what promised to be an intriguing clash. However, as per sources, it seems that O’Neill suffered a broken nose, rendering her unable to compete.

The withdrawal was confirmed by O’Neill herself in a heartfelt tweet where she shared the disappointing news. But she also expressed her determination to return to the octagon:

“Hurts to say this but unfortunately I am out of my fight in Sydney. Just had surgery on Friday and have already started recovering, looking to get rebooked in December ! Next year I’ll make sure I’m on an Australia card,” wrote the UFC star.

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Despite the setback, O’Neill’s resilience shines through as she looks forward to recovering and returning to action. While O’Neill’s exit is undoubtedly disappointing, the bout is still on the card with another star taking her spot.

Jennifer Maia steps up, restoring the build-up to UFC 293

In light of O’Neill’s injury, the UFC has swiftly found a replacement to keep the card intact. Stepping in for the Australian is Jennifer Maia, a fighter who is no stranger to the octagon and is a former flyweight title challenger. Ironically enough, Maia recently handed O’Neill her first professional loss at UFC 286, making her a fitting replacement for the injured fighter. Moreover, Maia’s inclusion ensures that the anticipated bout for Araujo remains on the card.

Despite the unfortunate withdrawal, the build-up to UFC 293 continues. While Adesanya is all set to take on UFC’s ‘Tarzan,’ Strickland is eager to make his mark and disrupt Adesanya’s reign. With back-to-back victories under his belt, the #5 Middleweight is determined to challenge for the middleweight title and secure a victory over the formidable champion.

As the event draws nearer, the MMA community eagerly awaits the clash between Adesanya and Strickland. The UFC 293 card promises an array of exciting matchups that will captivate fight enthusiasts around the world. What do you think? Will ‘Izzy’ defend his title successfully? Or will Strickland give fans a major upset? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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