The biggest news coming out of UFC 213 Saturday night in Las Vegas was the fight that didn’t happen. Prior to the event, the UFC announced that women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes had fallen ill, and was off the card. That scrapped the main event, and the interim title fight between Robert Whittaker and Yoel Romero was promoted in its place.
Today, Nunes released a statement via her official Twitter presenting her side of the story. In light of the cancellation, many fans had taken to attacking the star online, especially given she had reportedly been cleared to fight yet pulled out of the event regardless.
Everyone is wanting to hear my side so here it is….. I have chronic sinusitis, I have fought with it before but this time it didn’t work out, during the weight cut I was unable to breath and felt off balance from the pressure in my sinuses. I was not feeling well enought to risk getting punched in the head with such pressure. I was taken to the hospital after weigh ins and they only checked my blood and dehydration so cleared me based on that. The next day I went back and did a CT scan and found a build up and I was prescribed antibiotics and referred to a specialist. I have never pulled out of a fight before. I am sorry to all my fans that came out to see me, I’ll make it up to you the next time I step in the cage. The fight is being rescheduled. I still want this fight. I still want this opponent. Thank you.
No word yet on exactly when the fight will be rescheduled. The UFC’s next major event, UFC 214, takes place at the end of the month in Anaheim, CA, but already plays host to a trio of title fights counting Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones, Cris Cyborg vs. Tonya Evinger, and Tyron Woodley vs. Demian Maia.
