It’s been a rough day for Dana White’s Contender Series hopeful
Damonte
Robinson.
After missing weight earlier in the day at 156.5 pounds, Robinson
has been removed from his bout with Kenneth
Cross due to an unrelated medical issue. According to MMA
journalist James
Lynch, Robinson was not cleared by doctors due to an “eye
issue.”
As a result, the lightweight fight has been canceled and Week 1 of
Contender Series will proceed with four bouts. The card takes place
at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Tuesday and streams on ESPN+ at 8
p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The evening’s featured matchup is a light
heavyweight tilt pitting Dustin
Jacoby against Ty Flores.
Robinson entered the Contender Series with a 6-1-1 mark that
includes a loss to UFC talent Devonte
Smith in 2017. He is currently riding the momentum of a
two-bout winning streak.
Cross, meanwhile, was originally supposed to face Kevin Syler
at the event before Syler tested positive for COVID-19. Cross owns
a 10-3 professional mark and has won his last four appearances by
first-round TKO.