The former UFC Welterweight Champion, Robbie Lawler, is set to replace Geoff Neal on the main card against Neil Magny. The event slated for August 29 at the Apex Facility in Las Vegas underwent a sudden change as reported by MMA DNA.

Moreover, the card has already suffered a major setback as the headliner between Yair Rodriguez and Zabit Magomedsharipov failed to materialize.

ESPN’s Brett Okamoto took to Twitter and confirmed the same. Furthermore, he confirmed reports that Robbie Lawler was indeed in search of a fight, prior to Neal pulling out.

Chiefly, Geoff Neal withdrew from his scheduled bout after the news broke that he was hospitalized in the ICU. Intricate details of the maladies ailing Neal remain unknown, however, he released a statement through an Instagram post via MMA Junkie.

The comments made by Neal paint a gruesome picture of a potentially fatal ordeal.

UFC Welterweight Geoff Neal speaks out

The 170-pounder shared his harrowing experience in brief that possibly eluded weight-related issues. Moreover, he explained how the use of dialysis coupled with a short timeline of occurrence led to a near-death experience.

“These past few weeks have been crazy, and that’s putting it lightly. It’s really hard to try to find an eloquent way to say, ‘I almost died.’

“So screw it… I almost died…. This really put a lot of things into perspective for me. Never did I ever think I would be hooked up to a dialysis machine before my 30s.”

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Given the circumstances, it is easy to see why the perennially tough welterweight will not compete on August 29. Chiefly, MMA fans were excited to see his ascension up the ranks in the division, given his current momentum and trajectory.

“Everything was going well for me. Was training every day, making money at work, just signed a contract for a huge fight, then BOOM, life hit me with a check hook. I’m just glad to be home after having to spend 1 week in the ICU.

“Stay healthy out there y’all and listen to your body at all times.”

Neil Magny will have a tall order in his replacement bout against ‘Ruthless’ Robbie Lawler who is always game. He goes into his fight against the former UFC Champion on a two-fight win streak and will look to build on his momentum.

The 170-pound division is as talent stacked as ever with a dominant champion at the top.

READ MORE- THROWBACK: When Rory Macdonald and Robbie Lawler Put Up One of the Bloodiest UFC Fights

SOURCE- Brett Okamoto- Twitter, MMA Junkie