(Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
Recent statements released have confirmed that Brock Lesnar has pulled out of his UFC 106 fight with Shane Carwin. Why?
Chris Tuchscherer, a teammate of Lesnar's, released this statement about the details of Brock's decision:
“He actually practiced (Sunday) and thought he might be feeling alright. He said, ‘Wow, I think I’m doing OK today.’ (Monday) he got here and it was the same old stuff—fatiguing right away, not being all there.
"After practice we were all sitting around, we were actually going to come back later at night to work out again, and he basically told us, ‘Hey guys, I’m going to pull out of this thing.'
"There’s a lot of cases of (swine flu) around here. I don’t want to say it’s that for sure, but it wouldn’t surprise me. He was very excited for this fight. He was always in good spirits. I could tell he was kind of let down today and he told us he felt really bad.”
Dana White confirmed the news as well:
“He said he’s never been this sick in his life. He said it’s been going on for a long time and he just hasn’t been able to shake it.”
As for the title fight being re-scheduled, Shane Carwin released a statement on his Twitter account that should help us out:
“I just heard from Jason. Looks like it is postponed till Jan 2. I had h1n1 myself and I understand how devastating it can be.”
Looks like the fight is being moved to UFC 108. It was also rumored that Anderson Silva would be defending his middleweight belt against Vitor Belfort that night as well. Could we be getting two title fights to open up the new year or will one of these fights be moved to a later date?
With less than a month until UFC 106 (Nov. 21), the big question is: Who will headline the fight? The best answer right now is: Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin.
Ortiz released this statement yesterday after the news that Lesnar was out:
“From low tide to high tide…. You figure in losing the title [to Evans] that Forrest has doubt; he had doubt against Silva. This is all or nothing for him. And this is my comeback fight.
"I’m not going to lie, it’s been a challenge for me. Not pain. I have no [back] pain, but I’m dealing with the fatigue from not fighting so long. I’m like 80 to 90 percent now, not 100. Coming back is hard mentally and physically.
"So even though I won’t be going anywhere—I have five fights left on my contract—it’s kind of do or die for both of us. But I promise I’m going to get in there and entertain.
"I can’t wait...[The first fight] might have been a split-decision, but I thought I won. Look at my face after the fight, and look at his, and you’ll also see my hand was raised afterward...
"Two former champions. A lot of fans hate Forrest now after the Silva fight, but he usually brings it, and I always come to fight. I’m not going anywhere. I’ve been surviving for 12 years. I know how to do this.”
Sounds like Ortiz is looking to add some hype for his fight.
There has been no official confirmation that this bout has been moved to the headline, but I am guessing that the UFC really has no other choice.
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