UFC Liverpool lost an exciting main card matchup last night. To the dismay of many, Manny Bermudez vs. Davey Grant has been canceled. The news was first reported by MMANYTT, and then later confirmed by UFC officials.
UFC Statement
The UFC released the following statement in regards to Grant and his withdrawal:
“Due to a medical issue involving bantamweight athlete Davey Grant, the scheduled bout against Manny Bermudez has been canceled. UFC FIGHT NIGHT: THOMPSON vs. TILL on Sunday, May 27, will proceed with 11 bouts.”
According to the report, Grant withdrew from the match-up due to a staph infection. His withdrawal came just three days before the international event and marks the bantamweight’s third significant injury and his second fight withdrawal while with the UFC.
Davey Grant History of Injury
His first such instance withdrawing from a fight came following his stint on The Ultimate Fighter: Season 18. In March 2014, Grant was booked to face Roland Delorme at UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Manuwa (UFC Fight Night 37) until he suffered a torn meniscus.
It wasn’t until Grant faced Marlon Vera at UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Bisping (UFC Fight Night 84) in 2016, that he made his return. It was a successful return for the Brit, as he defeated Vera by unanimous decision. The victory is his first and only victory for the promotion.
Following that fight, he met Damian Stasiak at UFC 204. Unfortunately for Grant, he suffered a gruesome injury in a losing effort. Stasiak caught Grant in an armbar towards the latter portion of the third round. Grant refused to tap to the position and forced Stasiak to continue to apply pressure and leverage on his arm, causing it to break.
Reworked Card
His recent match-up with Bermudez would have ended the second two-year layoff of his UFC career.
In the case of Bermudez, his trip overseas went unfilled. He looked to extend his undefeated record to 13-0, and 2-0 in the UFC, as the fight was his second for the promotion.
Due to the withdrawal, UFC Liverpool was revised with a new bout order. According to MMAJunkie, Nordine Taleb vs. Claudio Silva was moved from the prelims to the main card. The remainder of the card stays intact.
Main Photo
Embed from Getty Images
