The UFC’s first card of 2024 is struggling to make it to Fight Night intact, with the loss of Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira the latest change to hit the card.
UFC Vegas 84 at the Apex in Las Vegas kicks of the UFC’s new year on January 13, 2024. With the loss of Chiasson vs. Vieira, however, the card has now undergone multiple cancellations and bout changes.
News of the women’s bantamweight fight between Chiasson, who has been out of action over a year, and Vieira, was recently announced by promotion officials. Vieira was removed from the fight, per that announcement, due to an undisclosed injury. It’s unclear if a new opponent will be sought for Macy Chiasson, as the fight has simply been listed as “cancelled.”
In addition, in recent days/weeks, UFC Vegas 84 has seen the following changes all confirmed by the UFC:
- Bassil Hafez dropped out of his welterweight fight with Preston Parsons due to injury, and has been replaced by Matthew “Semi the Jedi” Semelsberger.
- Denys Bondar encountered visa issues ahead of his flyweight bout with Felipe Bunes, and has been replaced by Josh Van.
- Injury has taken Gabriel Santos out of his featherweight bout with Westin Wilson; stepping in for Santos is Contender Series Season 7 alum Jean Silva.
- Yana Santos is out of her bantamweight fight with Norma Dumont, also due to injury. That fight, as with Chiasson vs. Vieira, has been cancelled.
It’s not a great start to 2024 for the UFC, and the new year hasn’t even arrived yet. Luckily, the Fight Night show’s main event remains intact. That fight is expected to see Johnny Walker run it back with Magomed Ankalaev. The pair’s first meeting ended inside of a round when an illegal knee rendered Walker unable to continue, resulting in the bout being ruled a No Contest.
