The injury bug has struck UFC Austin, forcing former Invicta FC champ Tonya Evinger off the card; original opponent Marion Reneau, meanwhile, moves to UFC Orlando.
With Tonya Evinger forced off the UFC Austin card, UFC bantamweight Marion Reneau will now face former title challenger Sara McMann. But not in Austin. Instead, Reneau vs. McMann will take place at UFC on FOX 28 in Orlando. MMA Junkie was first to report the news Wednesday evening, with Reneau later confirming the pairing. News of Evinger’s injury broke yesterday, with the ex-Invicta bantamweight champion clearly distraught with being unable to compete.
I'm just not ready to talk bout it all, I'm heartbroken and have nvr had an injury this bad. It's been an emotional wk for me and I've been crying over this for 4 days now so just give me a min to process everything and figure out what I'mma do.
— tonya evinger (@tonyaevinger) January 9, 2018
While the news is devastating for Evinger, there is a silver lining for Marion Reneau. In McMann, she gets an even higher profile opponent for the event than expected. McMann (11-4) had been on a three fight win streak prior to getting caught and submitted by Ketlan Vieira at UFC 215. She’s fought a who’s who of names in the bantamweight division, including her title challenge against Ronda Rousey, as well as Miesha Tate and Amanda Nunes. McMann, an Olympic silver medalist, is currently ranked eighth in the UFC’s official women’s bantamweight rankings.
Reneau herself is ranked tenth. The forty-year old ‘Belizean Bruiser’ is coming off a win over Talita Bernardo at UFC Fight Night 115 earlier this year. Overall, she’s 3-2-1 in the UFC, having fought to a draw with Bethe Correia at UFC Fight Night 106 last year.
McMann had originally been linked to a bout with Invicta FC bantamweight champ Yana Kunitskaya. There’s been no word on where she’ll end up thus far.
UFC on FOX 28 (UFC Orlando) takes place at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida on February 24.
