Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. This week has not been great for upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship matchups and the
fighters involved. On Tuesday, Makwan
Amirkhani (16-6) posted on his Instagram – in a post that has
since been deleted – that his opponent Tristan
Connelly (14-7) is out of their
UFC 267 battle. The two were looking to get down to business at
featherweight on Oct. 30 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United
Arab Emirates. Connelly’s replacement has not yet been declared,
but Amirkhani plans on remaining on the billing.
“Yes [Connelly] is out,” Amirkhani wrote, courtesy of a
transcription by
MMA Junkie. “It’s a sad story cause it would have been a great
matchup between me and Tristan. He said in an interview that he is
not expecting that same Makwan what we have been seeing in my last
fights. ‘We will see a hungry Amirkhani.’ Tristan you where [sic]
right on that one brother and now I’m even more hungrier. I’m the
flow. 30.10.2021.”
Connelly aimed to rebound from a defeat to Pat
Sabatini in April, which came at 145 pounds. “Boondock” dropped
down from welterweight two divisions to his more natural category
of featherweight, which followed his successful organizational
debut in a massive upset against Michel
Pereira. The defeat to Sabatini put an end to a five-fight win
streak that saw him capture the Rise FC title over D’Juan
Owens in 2019.
Finland’s Amirkhani is looking to put an end to the first losing
streak of his career. Amirkhani was stifled against Edson
Barboza in late 2020 and dropped a decision, and a subsequent
effort when facing Kamuela
Kirk in June also saw him lose on the scorecards. As a pro,
“Mr. Finland” has seen 69 percent of his victories come by
submission, with more anaconda chokes than any other maneuver
including two in the UFC over Danny Henry
and Chris
Fishgold.
UFC 267 rolls on at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island at Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates, on Oct. 30. The top billing sees a light
heavyweight championship bout when Jan
Blachowicz defends his throne against Glover
Teixeira. The co-headliner brings a bantamweight rematch for
the belt as Aljamain
Sterling faces Petr Yan. A
high-stakes lightweight affair comes on the main card as well, when
Islam
Makhachev takes on Rafael dos
Anjos.
