John Dodson’s bantamweight scrap with rising contender Pedro Munhoz will not longer go down tomorrow. MMA Fighting journalist Guilherme Cruz was following the story closely after Pedro Munhoz missed weight early this morning. At first a catchweight was offered with Munhoz fined 20-percent of his purse, which would go to Dodson, as well as 20-percent of a potential win bonus. However, either the UFC changed their mind or an on-weight Dodson refused to take the fight with a heavier opponent, so the fight was called off.
UFC Belem ceremonial weigh-ins are a little over than 3 hours away, and no decision has been made about the co-main event. Pedro Munhoz missed by 4 pounds, and I’m hearing that John Dodson isn’t that interested in taking the fight. UFC trying to get it done.
— Guilherme Cruz (@guicruzzz) February 2, 2018
I’m told that Dodson-Munhoz is off.
— Guilherme Cruz (@guicruzzz) February 2, 2018
“After Pedro Munhoz missed weight by four pounds for his UFC Belem bout against John Dodson, UFC officials have pulled the fight from Saturday night’s event. Munhoz weighed in at 140 pounds on Friday morning for the bantamweight bout. Moving into the co-main event slot is the flyweight bout between Valentina Shevchenko and Priscila Cachoeira. UFC Belem, which airs live on FS1, will proceed with 11 bouts.” – via an official statement from the UFC.
Shortly after Cruz announced the fight was off, the UFC released their own official statement about the fight cancellation. In the its place, Valentina Shevchenko’s bout against Priscila Cachoeira will be bumped into the co-main event slot. Below is the complete and updated card with only 11 fights total for a short Saturday night of fights in Brazil.
MAIN CARD
Lyoto Machida vs. Eryk Anders
Priscila Cachoeira vs. Valentina Shevchenko
Desmond Green vs. Michel Prazeres
Marcelo Golm vs. Timothy Johnson
Douglas de Andrade vs. Marlon Vera
Thiago “Marreta” Santos vs. Anthony Smith
UNDERCARD
Tim Means vs. Sergio Moraes
Damir Hadzovic vs. Alan Patrick
Polyana Viana vs. Maia Stevenson
Iuri Alcantara vs. Joe Soto
FIGHT PASS PRELIM
Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Joseph Morales
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 2/2/2018.