[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdo5gGr7E10&w=560&h=315]
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. One Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight’s
loss is another’s gain in this era of constant fight
replacements. On Thursday, Makhmud
Muradov (25-7) announced on Instagram that he
had injured his arm and will no longer be competing at
UFC Fight Night 202 on Feb. 26. A day later, the organization
set a replacement for him in Wellington
Turman (17-5), who will step in to face Misha
Cirkunov (15-7) at the Las Vegas event inside the UFC Apex.
This news first came from
MMA Junkie on Friday, and this new pairing has been confirmed
by
other outlets.
Turman was originally slated to take on Rodolfo
Vieira at UFC 270, but Vieira
fell ill and pulled out of the matchup on the day of weigh-ins.
In his last time out, he fought Sam Alvey and
secured a strange split decision after losing two points for
repeated eye pokes in the match. The loss snapped a two-fight
first-round knockout skid at the hands of Andrew
Sanchez and Bruno Silva
in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
Cirkunov’s middleweight debut did not go his way at UFC Fight Night
193, dropping down to 185 pounds and taking on Krzysztof
Jotko, only to lose a split decision. By losing on the
scorecards, the Latvian fighter suffered the first decision loss of
his career, and it made just the third time he had ever gone the
distance as a pro. Each of the last 10 victories for Cirkunov has
come by stoppage.
UFC Fight Night 202 goes down at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Feb.
26 with lightweights on tap for the headliner. In a possible title
eliminator match in the marquee, Beneil
Dariush squares off with Islam
Makhachev. While the bout order has not yet been set, the
likely co-main event comes in the form of a light heavyweight
banger between Ryan Spann
and Ion
Cutelaba.
