Streaking #3 ranked UFC lightweight contender, Beneil Dariush has reportedly suffered an ankle injury ahead of his scheduled UFC Vegas 49 main event against Islam Makhachev on February 26. – forcing his withdrawal from the high-stakes title-eliminator at the UFC Apex facility.
As per an initial report from ESPN MMA, Makhachev will remain on the card in ‘Sin City’ – matching with the unranked lightweight contender and recent UFC 271 victor, Bobby Green in a five round, 160lbs catchweight showdown.
The bout between Dariush and Makhachev was billed as a potential lightweight title-eliminator, with the #3 and #4 ranked challenges clashing against each other in a main event showcase.
Undefeated in his last seven straight, Kings MMA staple, Dariush co-headlined UFC 262 back in May of last year, securing a one-sided unanimous decision win over former interim division titleholder, Tony Ferguson.
Riding an incredible run of nine consecutive victories, Makhachev, a mainstay at American Kickboxing Academy, made short work of Kiwi striker, Dan Hooker on short notice at UFC 267 back in October, stopping the Auckland native with an opening round kimura.
Veteran division staple, Green, on the other hand, featured on the main card of UFC 271 last week, earning major plaudits for a hugely impressive unanimous decision win over the highly-touted, Nasrat Haqparast.
The win came as the Californian’s second straight after he stopped Al Iaquinta with one-sided first round strikes at UFC 268 back in November at Madison Square Garden.
Green, a former Strikeforce and KOTC contender, has competed in the UFC since February 2013, and has secured notable career wins over the likes of Charles Bennett, Daron Cruickshank, James Krause, Pat Healy, Josh Thomson, Erik Koch, Clay Guida, and Landa Vannata to name a few.
UFC Vegas 49 is slated to take place on February 26. from the UFC Apex facility, with a 160lbs catchweight pairing of Makhachev and Green expected to headline the event.
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