Megan Anderson has been forced off the UFC 214 card for personal reasons, and another Invicta FC champion will step in to take her place. Current Invicta FC bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger has been released from her contract, allowing her to face Cris Cyborg at UFC 214 next month. Invicta FC confirmed the news in a press release this evening, following a statement Anderson posted on social media earlier today.
Evinger was to headline Invicta FC 24 next month, already filling in for Megan Anderson on that card. The all-female promotion has now promoted Milana Dudieva vs. Mara Romero Borella as the new main event of that show.
Anderson, meanwhile, had this to say about being off the UFC 214 card:
I have been wanting this fight for a long time and finally got the opportunity to showcase my skills on the big stage but unfortunately due to some pressing personal reasons that are out of my control, it is not to be right now.
I am no stranger to struggle and this is the biggest struggle I have faced yet but like I always do, I will come back stronger and better than before and I will be coming straight for Cris, the Title and becoming the face of the UFC 145lb division.
I am determined and resolved to make history and shock the world. I’m coming for whoever has that belt.
The former Invicta FC interim featherweight champion, who was promoted to the undisputed champ when Cris Cyborg vacated her title to set her sights on the UFC, did not explain any further as to the nature of the issues she is facing.
Evinger (19–5 (1)), who was to face Helna Kolensyk at Invicta FC 24 in a featherweight fight, now gets to face Cyborg for UFC gold instead. The bout will mark her featherweight debut. In the past, she has fought as low as flyweight. Most recently, she defeated Yana Kunitskaya by rear-naked choke at Invicta FC 22 in a rematch of a controversial bout between the two late last year. That original fight was ruled a no contest after a referee error.
UFC 214 takes place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on July 29.
