Chas Skelly returned to the octagon on Saturday for the first time since 2019, expecting to face Jamall Emmers at UFC Vegas 19.
The fight did not happen — but that didn’t come to light until after Skelly was already in the octagon. Immediately following his walkout, the UFC broadcast team announced that Emmers was in medical distress, and could not compete. According to the broadcast, Emmers was suffering from back spasms.
Skelly (18-3, 1NC) did not appear to be aware until it was announced in the octagon.
The Texas-born featherweight had been looking to make it two wins in a row on Saturday. A slight underdog in the fight with Emmers, he was coming off a win in 2019 against Jordan Griffin. Skelly did not fight at all during 2020. Emmers, meanwhile, had been hoping to build off a victory last year against Vince Cachero.
Emmers actually managed to compete three times in 2020.
“No animosity, it sucks,” Skelly said on the broadcast, in an interview with Michael Bisping following the announcement. The 11-fight UFC veteran added that he hoped the promotion would pay out his win bonus for the fight.
UFC Vegas 19 saw one fight cancelled on both Friday (at weigh-ins) and Saturday, with Rafael Alves vs. Pat Sabatini, and Luis Pena vs. Drakkar Klose also lost.
