Amru Magomedov won’t be defending his lightweight title at UAE Warriors 64.
Magomedov (9-0) was set to face Martun Mezhlumyan (15-3) in Wednesday’s main event from ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi, but the bout has been canceled after Mezhlumyan was hospitalized due to to complications from his weight cut. A person with knowledge of the matchup informed MMA Junkie of the fight cancellation but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
As a result, the flyweight title-unification bout between champion Iago Ribeiro (13-3) and interim champ Muhidin Abubaker (10-1) will headline the card. The vacant bantamweight title fight between Asaf Chopurov (8-0) and former EFC and ARES champion Demarte Pena (16-3) will serve as the co-main event.
Magomedov, a protege of former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, was looking to notch his third title defense after finishes of Ali Kabdulla and ex-UFC fighter Alex da Silva. UAE Warriors 64 falls on the same week as UFC 321, which takes place Saturday and is headlined by a heavyweight title fight between champion Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane.
