A lightweight showdown between Jeremy
Stephens and Drakkar
Klose that was scheduled to co-headline
UFC on ESPN 22 will have to go down another day.
At the top of Saturday’s broadcast, the promotion announced that
the fight had been scrapped due to Klose suffering an undisclosed
injury. As a result, UFC on ESPN 22 will proceed with 10 bouts, and
Andrei
Arlovski vs. Chase
Sherman will serve as the new co-main event.
Shortly thereafter, Klose released a statement revealing that he
felt his hand go numb and neck tighten up after being pushed by
Stephens during a staredown at weigh-ins on Friday. On Saturday, he
was hindered by a migraine and vomiting, so the UFC medical staff
elected to remove Klose from the event.
— Drakkar Klose (@drakkarklose)
April 17, 2021
According to the UFC, Klose vs. Stephens will be rebooked as soon
as possible.
Klose last appeared at UFC 248, where he had a three-bout winning
streak snapped in a second-round knockout loss to Beneil
Dariush in March 2020. The Fight Ready representative is 5-2
during his Octagon tenure thus far.
Stephens, meanwhile, is winless is his last five UFC appearances.
Most recently, “Lil Heathen” suffered a knockout loss to Calvin
Kattar at UFC 249 in May 2020.