The matchup between Ciryl Gane and Shamil Abdurakhimov has fallen through once again.
The UFC heavyweight bout, which was scheduled for Oct. 17, will no longer happen after Adurakhimov (20-5 MMA, 5-3 UFC) withdrew for undisclosed reasons. The UFC is currently searching for an opponent to replace him against fight Gane (6-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC).
MMA Junkie confirmed the withdrawal with a person with knowledge of the situation Monday after an initial report from Russian reporter Igor Lazorin. The person asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Gane and Abdurakhimov had a previous booking fall through earlier this year. Scheduled to fight at UFC 249 on April 18, Gane pulled out due to a pneumothorax. The event was eventually postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Oct. 17 event will take place at Flash Forum on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi – the UFC’s third of five during its second stint on “Fight Island.”
The latest lineup for the UFC’s Oct. 17 event includes:
- Brian Ortega vs. Chan Sung Jung
- Nikita Krylov vs. Volkan Oezdemir
- Jessica Andrade vs. Katlyn Chookagian
- Ciryl Gane vs. TBA
- Poliana Botelho vs. Gillian Robertson
- Modestas Bukauskas vs. Jimmy Crute
- Mateusz Gamrot vs. Magomed Mustafaev
- Muslim Salikhov vs. Claudio Silva
- Jun Yong Park vs. John Phillips
- Gadzhimurad Antigulov vs. Maxim Grishin
- Said Nurmagomedov vs. Mark Striegl
- Mounir Lazzez vs. David Zawada
- Jamie Mullarkey vs. Fares Ziam
