A sudden illness means tomorrow’s TUF 26 finale has a new main event.
A huge shakeup just hit the Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale card, as Sijara Eubanks has suffered a medical emergency. That means the flyweight is off the card, out of her title fight against Nicco Montano. With Eubanks unable to weigh in, Roxanne Modafferi is now in the main event. Modafferi was the number one seed on TUF 26, going to the semi-finals. The news was first reported on Twitter by Combat Press‘ Rob Tatum.
BREAKING: Sijara Eubanks will not weigh in and has been removed from the #TUFFinale. Roxanne Modafferi will step in to face Nicco Montaño for the inaugural flyweight title. #TUF26 #UFC
— Rob Tatum (@RobTatum303) November 30, 2017
Eubanks upset Modafferi in a hotly contested three-round semi-final in the final episode of the TUF 26 season. Ultimately picking up a unanimous decision, Eubanks earned herself a shot at the title against Nicco Montano.
Montano (3-2) defeated Barb Honchak in the semi-finals of The Ultimate Fighter 26 to punch her ticket to the finale. Instead of Eubanks, now, she’ll take on the vastly more experienced Modafferi — with the inaugural UFC women’s flyweight championship on the line.
Always the class act, ‘The Happy Warrior’ — though happy for the opportunity — wished Eubanks well.
I’m excited for the opportunity. I also hope Sijara gets better quickly. A weight cut to the point of hospitalization can be serious. https://t.co/l0pjDgV4mw
— Roxanne Modafferi (@Roxyfighter) November 30, 2017
The UFC released a statement regarding the situation Thursday afternoon.
Sijara Eubanks was hospitalized this morning and has been pulled from her bout against Nicco Montano at Friday's The Ultimate Fighter Finale. Stepping in for Eubanks to fight in the inaugural UFC women’s flyweight championship bout will be TUF 26 semifinalist @Roxyfighter.
— UFC (@ufc) November 30, 2017
The Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale takes place on December 1 (that’s tomorrow) at the Park Theater outside Las Vegas, NV. More details on this story will be provided as it develops.
Updated at 2:30 PM EST with UFC’s official statement.
