With Claudia Gadelha out due to a nagging ankle injury, Marina Rodriguez is stepping in against Cynthia Calvillo at UFC Washington.
Cynthia Calvillo has a new opponent at UFC Washington (UFC on ESPN 7) this December. Yesterday, former title challenger Claudia Gadelha announced she was off the event, forced out due to injury. The news left Calvillo in need of a new opponent, but one has quickly been found. First reported by ESPN, Marina Rodriguez will take over for Gadelha.
Gadelha, clearly disappointed, said in a video posted to Instagram that “after my last fight, I had to take a break because I broke a finger and I rolled my ankle. I have a torn ligament and a ruptured tendon, and I took some time off because I had to let it heal, I had to let my body heal and let my injuries heal.” However, while the finger is all healed up, “my ankle is just not getting better.”
Gadelha (17–4) last fought at UFC 239 in July, where she defeated Randa Markos in a unanimous decision. Rodriguez (12–0–1), meanwhile, is undefeated in her career, with a draw with Markos being the only fight that didn’t end in victory for Brazilian strawweight.
Calvillo (8–1) last fought in February, defeating Cortney Casey. She had been scheduled to return in July opposite Lívia Renata Souza, but was forced out of that card due to a broken foot.
UFC on ESPN 7 takes place December 7, 2019 at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
