Picture Credit: UFC
MMA fans were eagerly waiting for TJ Dillashaw’s return at UFC Vegas 26, but the event was subsequently cancelled as the veteran suffered from a cut right on top of his eye during the training session. His opponent, Cory Sandhagen was also pulled out of the fight card to ensure this match-up for a future date. However, replacing this bout would be Marina Rodriguez and Michelle Waterson in a flyweight main card bout.
As both these fighters have considered locking horns on such short notice for the UFC Vegas 26 main card fight, the authorities ensured that the strawweight veterans focused less on their weight cut and more on fight camp.
Marina Rodrigues is currently ranked 6, whereas Michelle Waterson is ranked 9 in the strawweight division. Both these fighters have bounced back to the win column after a loss. Marina lost to Carla Esparza, courtesy of a split decision. She bounced back with a brutal TKO win over Amanda Ribas at UFC 257 in the first month of 2021. Meanwhile, Michelle lost to Carla Esparza in May 2020 but bounced back with a narrow win over Angela Hill.
UFC Vegas 26 co-main event?
Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone will head into the octagon against Alex Morono. The former has not won a single fight in his last 5 outings in the octagon. His last result was a draw against Niko Price in September. Morono, on the other hand, is coming into this fight on the back of a loss against Anthony Pettis in December 2020.
Other fights on the card include Neil Magny vs Geoff Neal, Maurice 'Bobby' Greene vs Marcos De Lima, Diego Ferreira vs Gregor Gillespie and Amanda Ribas vs Angela Hill.