The 2025 Fight Night cards haven’t been a smooth ride for the UFC. The promotion has faced multiple fight cancellations, especially at the UFC Fight Night Perth event, where officials completely replaced the co-main event. Unfortunately, UFC Rio hasn’t had much better luck either. After Rafael Fiziev pulled out, lightweight contender Mateusz Gamrot stepped in to face Charles Oliveira, saving the main event. But another matchup didn’t share the same fate.

At the Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Valter Walker prepared to face Mohammed Usman in a highly anticipated heavyweight clash. However, when Kamaru Usman’s older brother withdrew from the fight due to injury at the very last minute, the UFC looked to Tallison Teixeira as a replacement. Yet, just before the official weigh-ins, the promotion failed to secure a suitable opponent, forcing them to cancel the bout altogether and sparking questions about the depth of their Brazilian talent pool.

Heavyweight fight gets canceled at UFC Rio

As the news started circulating, disappointed fans took to social media to voice their frustration. One X (formerly Twitter) account named Pelunation raised a valid question, writing, “I’m surprised that they can’t find anyone, especially in Brazil where fighters come out from under a rock, even a semi-heavyweight who accepts.” (Translated from Portuguese to English)

And that’s indeed quite surprising. Looking at the current heavyweight rankings, some of Brazil’s top fighters, such as Vitor Petrino and Jhonata Diniz, have already had fights booked. The fight against Tallison Teixeira also failed to materialize, further narrowing the options. Moreover, Marcos Rogerio de Lima is currently under suspension and won’t be eligible to compete until January 2026. That’s why finding a replacement from the top 15 was tough for Walker. Still, there’s another lingering concern: 

It’s the UFC’s inability to find a short-notice, unranked Brazilian fighter to save the bout that has raised questions about whether their talent pool is getting shallow. It’s a problem the promotion may need to address in the near future.

Valter Walker weighs in without an opponent

Preparing for a fight is undoubtedly a tough process for any athlete. And when a bout gets canceled unexpectedly, it’s not just disappointing — it can also mean losing out on a fight purse. With that in mind, Valter Walker made a bold move by stepping on the scale despite having no opponent, still hoping to compete at UFC Rio.

At the weigh-ins, Walker stated, “I trained a lot for this fight. I want to ask the UFC to give me another chance to fight in Rio, it’s my dream. Look at my heavyweight shape.” That truly shows the determination and fighting spirit these athletes bring to the Octagon.

Whether ‘The Clean Monster’ will receive his fight purse, or at least part of it, is yet to be revealed. However, the main event between Charles Oliveira and Mateusz Gamrot, which has gained significant momentum, thankfully remains intact. Both fighters successfully made the 156-pound lightweight limit, cementing their clash for the night.

With that being said, do you think UFC Rio will face more last-minute scares, or is it finally ready to rock the Brazilian crowd? Let us know in the comments section below.