Diego Sanchez out of UFC 180 with an injury, bout scrapped
In one week, the UFC has lost its two most popular Mexican-Americans off its debut card in Mexico.
UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez was forced to pull out of the main event against Fabricio Werdum on Tuesday due to a knee injury. And now Diego Sanchez is hurt and cannot compete at UFC 180 on Nov. 15 in Mexico City, the UFC announced Thursday. Sanchez's opponent Joe Lauzon was forced off the card Wednesday, also because of injury.
The Sanchez-Lauzon bout has been scrapped altogether and now a welterweight matchup between Hector Urbina and Edgar Garcia will take its place on the main card.
Sanchez was initially supposed to meet Norman Parke at UFC 180, but Parke, too, fell injured.
Mark Hunt has replaced Velasquez and he will meet Werdum in the main event for the interim heavyweight title. The winner will fight Velasquez to unify the belt, perhaps as early as March. Velasquez has not fought since October 2013 due to injuries.
UFC 180 is still co-headlined by a welterweight contender bout between Jake Ellenberger and Kelvin Gastelum. Ricardo Lamas and Dennis Bermudez meet in a big featherweight contender fight as well.
