T.J. Dillashaw injured, out of UFC 186

UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw has been forced to withdraw from his UFC 186 title fight with Renan Barao next month. The rematch between the two had been scheduled to take place at Montreal’s Bell Centre on April 25, but a fractured rib sustained by the champion in wrestling practice late last week means that he will be unable to compete.

PostMedia News first reported the injury, which has since been confirmed by the UFC. The initial report also stated that it was unclear whether the UFC would seek an alternative opponent for Barao (33-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC), but MMA Fighting has since reported, that the fight has been scrapped and the flyweight title bout between Demetrious Johnson and Kyoji Horiguchi will serve as the new UFC 186 main event.

When Dillashaw (11-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) took the 135-pound strap away from Barao in May of last year, it was considered among the biggest upsets in UFC history. Barao was unable to participate in the pair’s scheduled rematch at UFC 177 in August when he was hospitalised ahead of the bout due to complications surrounding his weight cut. Now the pair’s rematch will be further postponed as Dillashaw will spend an estimated six weeks on the sidelines to recover.

Reaching out to his fans via Instagram, the bantamweight champion had the following to say:

“First of all I want apologize to all my fans and everyone looking forward to this fight. I unfortunately had to pull out of the fight do to a fractured rib. Just a freak accident during wrestling practice. This is heart breaking to me because I was looking forward to this fight and never want to be a fighter having to pull out of a fight. I will heal up quick and come back as soon as I can. Thx for the support.”

UFC 186 will go ahead next month in Montreal, but fans will have to wait a little longer to see the much anticipated rematch of “The Viper” and “The Baron”.