Injury scratches Sara McMann from UFC on ESPN+ 13

The “brutal” physical toll of training has left onetime UFC women’s bantamweight title challenger Sara McMann unable to fight at UFC on ESPN+ 13.

McMann (11-5 MMA, 5-5 UFC) announced on social media that she’s been forced to withdraw from the July 13 event in Sacramento, Calif., due to an injury (via Instagram):

View this post on Instagram

Welp, I'm pretty bummed to announce that I won't be fighting on the July card in Sacramento 😔😔😔 MMA training demands so much from the body and it pains me to concede that I just wasn't able to get it properly prepared for the fight. So after learning the hard way (getting injured) I am taking a short time to focus on getting my body healthy and strong enough to withstand the brutal toll that must be paid to be in this sport. Thank you to my team for supporting me 100% and thanks to all of my friends and fans for being a little more patient for my return. 🙏🤗 #ufc #teamalphamale #buildingastrongerme #onerepatatime #brb

A post shared by Sara McMann (@saramcmann) on Jun 18, 2019 at 5:20pm PDT

The setback comes after an extended layoff for McMann, 38, who most recently fought in February 2018 at UFC on FOX 28, where she was submitted by Marion Reneau. It was her second consecutive loss by submission after getting tapped by Ketlen Vieira in her previous performance at UFC 217.

Three months after her most recent fight, McMann announced she was pregnant and taking a hiatus from the sport. She gave birth this past December to a healthy boy.

In January, McMann targeted a return in May or June, and subsequently booked a fight with inaugural flyweight champ Nicco Montano, who moved up in weight after a miss on the scales cost her the belt.

Now, the UFC has less than one month to replace McMann to preserve its current fight card.

For more on the UFC on ESPN+ 13, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.