UFC Champion Amanda Nunes Hospitalized, Withdraws from Main Event at UFC 213
It was supposed to be a highly anticipated main event at UFC 213, but just hours before the fight, women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes was hospitalized and forced to withdraw from her title defense against Valentina Shevchenko. This shocking news was confirmed by UFC president Dana White, leaving fans and media alike in disbelief.
The news of Nunes’ illness and withdrawal was first reported by Ariel Helwani of mmafighting.com, and White later told LA Times beat writer Lance Pugmire via text message that Nunes had been cleared to fight by a physician, but she simply did not feel well enough to compete.
As a result, the scheduled co-main event between Yoel Romero and Robert Whittaker for the interim middleweight title will now take the main event spot. The co-main event will feature a heavyweight bout between former champion Fabricio Werdum and Alistair Overeem, with the winner earning a shot at current champion Stipe Miocic.
Nunes’ Withdrawal Sparks Speculation and Disappointment
Many have speculated about the cause of Nunes’ sudden illness, with some pointing to her appearance at the official weigh-in on Friday morning. Some have suggested that she looked drained and weak, a common occurrence for fighters during weight cuts. However, Nunes has never missed weight or pulled out of a fight due to weight-cutting issues in her nine-year MMA career.
According to Bob Bennett of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Nunes’ withdrawal was not solely due to weight-cutting issues, but rather other undisclosed health concerns. This has only added to the speculation and disappointment surrounding the situation.
In the meantime, undefeated women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk has been actively campaigning for a fight against Shevchenko, even offering to step in as a replacement for Nunes. However, due to medical screening and other clearances required by the NSAC, Jedrzejczyk will not be able to fight tonight. Fans and media will have to wait and see how this story unfolds over the next few days.
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