Former champion Frankie Edgar has pulled out of the UFC Denver main event. Replacing him against Chan Sung Jung will be Yair Rodriguez.
ESPN’s Brett Okamoto first reported the UFC Denver main event switch. His colleague Ariel Helwani added that the injury to Frankie Edgar is a torn bicep, and that he expects to return in early 2019 since it does not require surgery.
Frankie Edgar was incredibly close to receiving his long-overdue featherweight title shot last year/earlier this year, having it scheduled twice. The first time he was booked against Max Holloway, Edgar pulled out with an injury. The second time it was booked, Holloway suffered an injury and was replaced by top contender Brian Ortega. For the first time in his career, the notoriously tough Edgar was stopped in the first round via knockout. The New Jersey native has recovered since then with a decision win over Cub Swanson.
Yair Rodriguez has not fought since losing in a one-sided fight to Frankie Edgar in May of last year, and has since fallen out of favor with the UFC. After reportedly declining two fight offers, Rodriguez was abruptly released by the promotion despite being the 11th-ranked featherweight in the division and a former top prospect. Several weeks later, Rodriguez was back with the UFC and accepted a fight with Zabit Magomedsharipov. The Mexican-born fighter was unable to make it to fight night, however, due to an injury.
Chan Sung Jung, affectionately known as The Korean Zombie, has fought just once since returning from his mandatory South Korean military service in 2016. He made the most of it though, knocking out Dennis Bermudez in the first round. Jung has since pulled out of a fight with Ricardo Lamas, and fans eagerly await his return in Denver.
UFC Denver will take place on November 10, at the Pepsi Center in Colorado. Supporting Rodriguez vs. Jung on the card is a co-main event of Donald Cerrone vs. Mike Perry.
