The UFC has been dealt a big setback ahead of next month’s pay-per-view event, with Charles Oliveira reportedly forced out of his co-main event against Beneil Dariush at UFC 288 with injury.
A report from ESPN claims Oliveira has been made to limit his training in the past few weeks due to injury and as a result will not be ready for the fight against Dariush.
It has been widely suggested that instead of finding a replacement fighter to take on Dariush, the UFC will instead opt to reschedule the bout for another date.
The nature of Oliveira’s injury is not known at this stage.
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It is a significant blow for the UFC 288 event, with Jonathan Pearce also withdrawing from his scheduled fight with Bryce Mitchell earlier in the week.
That fight though will not be rescheduled with the UFC instead said to be looking for a replacement to face Mitchell.
UPDATED UFC 288 CARD
Champ Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo – for bantamweight title
Bryce Mitchell vs. opponent TBC
Jessica Andrade vs. Yan Xiaonan
Rolando Bedoya vs. Khaos Williams
Johnny Munoz vs. Daniel Santos
Virna Jandiroba vs. Marina Rodriguez
opponent TBC vs. Armen Petrosyan
Devin Clark vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu
Kron Gracie vs. Charles Jourdain
Rafael Estevam vs. Zhalgas Zhumagulov
Drew Dober vs. Matt Frevola
Joseph Holmes vs. Claudio Ribeiro
