The number of fighters missing weight has drastically increased from where it was used to be. With fighters not allowed to compete by commissions, fighters facing health issues due to weight cut, fighters getting injured in the eleventh hour and a plethora of reasons for which a fighter might not make it to the fight, the UFC have found that having a replacement is a safe strategy.
Recently for the super fight between Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier at UFC 226, surging contender Alexander Volkov was the Plan B. Also for the TUF 27 main event between Israel Adesanya and Brad Tavares, Thiago Santos was sent to Vegas as a replacement.
Similarly for the welterweight bout between champion Tyron Woodley and contender Darren Till, #6 ranked Kamaru Usman will serve as a replacement.
With challenger Darren Till susceptible of missing weight, Usman has a gut feeling of cashing in the opportunity. (via Twitter):
Just a deep feeling in my soul, September 8th I will be the new Welterweight Champion of the world!!! 😏
— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) August 9, 2018
The news was further confirmed by ESPN’s Brett Okamoto. (via Twitter):
Per his management, Usman will in fact submit medicals and weigh-in during fight week, in the event something happens to Woodley or Till before UFC 228 in Dallas. https://t.co/ON1tWzf7l1
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) August 9, 2018
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