Picture Credit: Twitter
UFC 282 is starting to become a cursed fight card as multiple fights have been called off due to various reasons. Two new fights which were recently called off are Ovince Saint Preux vs Antonio Trocoli and Robbie Lawler vs Santiago Ponzinibbio. Before these two fights, Jiri Prochazka also withdrew from the main event with an injury.
This led to Jan Blachowicz facing Magomed Ankalaev for the light heavyweight title. Talking about Ovince Saint Preux, the Florida native has lost another opponent for UFC 282 as Anthony Trocoli withdrew from the fight due to visa issues.
This is also the third time Preux has lost his opponent. The 39-year-old veteran was originally scheduled to lock horns against Alexander Gustafsson but then had the match-up called off and then he was set to fight Brazilian light heavyweights Philipe Lins and Trocoli. The news was reported by MMA Junkie.
Trocoli was set to make his debut in the octagon after registering a first-round finish in Brazil in 2021, over two years after a troubled appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series. Trocoli was given a UFC contract after he defeated Kenneth Bergh that night but then failed a doping test for nandrolone. Now after missing out on this fight, Trocoli has been released from the promotion.
Going to the other cancelled fight of the Pay-Per-View, Robbie Lawler had to pull out of his UFC 282 matchup against Santiago Ponzinibbio with an undisclosed injury. ESPN MMA reported this news and said, “Lawler out of UFC 282. Former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler has been forced to withdraw from his bout against Santiago Ponzinibbio due to an undisclosed injury, sources told ESPN.”
Further reports also add that the UFC is looking at a possible replacement for the fight. Reports said, “The UFC is working on finding a potential replacement for Santiago Ponzinibbio, Robbie Lawler’s opponent, sources tell @bokamotoespn. #UFC282”