Getty Amanda Nunes
Just hours before she was supposed to step into the octagon to take on Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 213, UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Amanda Nunes has pulled out because of a reported illness.
TMZ Sports first reported that she pulled out of the headlining fight at the July 8 pay-per-view due to a “mysterious” illness. Nunes had been complaining all week about feeling ill and was in a Las Vegas hospital both Friday and Saturday. A source told TMZ that doctors checked her out, but found virtually nothing wrong.
Earlier in the week, the Brazlian said in an interview that she has “very bad sinus infections” when she has to travel, but there’s no word yet if that was the reason she will miss the fight.
With the withdrawal, the scheduled fight between Yoel Romero and Robert Whittacker has now become the main event and UFC 213 will proceed with 11 fights. That’s despite Joanna Jedrzejczyk, who weighs 20 pounds less than Shevchenko, pleading with UFC officials Saturday to replace Nunes.
But Jedrzejczyk posted an Instagram video shortly after the Nunes news saying that she spoke with Dana White and they are “going to try and make this fight happen.”
That doesn’t seem like a possibility, however, as Nevada Athletic Commission Executive Director Bob Bennett said it’s too late to replace her.
Per NAC executive director Bob Bennett, it would be too late at this point to replace Nunes with anyone. #UFC213
Nunes burst onto the MMA scene at UFC 163 in her debut, winning her first fight via TKO in the first round. The UFC 213 fight against Shevchenko was supposed to be a rematch, as Nunes won a fight against her at UFC 196 by unanimous decision.
After that fight, Nunes earned a title shot at UFC 200 and defeated reigning UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Meisha Tate by submission in the first round.
With the title around her waist, she defended it against a returning Ronda Rousey in the main event of UFC 207. Rousey was no match for Nunes, who won by TKO in only 48 seconds in the first round.
Her second title defense was set to be at UFC 213 in the rematch against Shevchenko.