Al Iaquinta has filled in for Max Holloway to take on Khabib Nurmogomedov after it was determined that Holloway could not make the required weight of 155 pounds.
Holloway, filling in on less than a week’s notice, was unable to make the weight according to officials. One has to wonder whether having Holloway come to Brooklyn to fight made sense considering he was coming off an injury and the compressed time to make the weight.
Paul Felder offered to take the fight but the New York State Athletic Commission indicated that since he was not ranked, he could not take the championship fight. The reasoning falls in line with what many have advocated with the Ali Act – Felder was not ranked high enough to take the fight for the Championship.
Can confirm Paul Felder will not get the Nurmagomedov fight because the NYSAC says he’s “not ranked.” https://t.co/xNEvTWNvFF
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) April 6, 2018
Iaquinta, Felder’s opponent steps in to the main event. And, it appears there’s a discrepancy on whether this is a title fight or not.
Dana White announces the title is on the line for both Khabib Nurmagomedov and Al Iaquinta. Commission doesn’t consider it a title fight for Al, but White says they’re work out the technicalities later.
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) April 6, 2018
Payout Perspective:
UFC 223 seemed like such a great event and the events of fight week have soured some good fights. If Iaquinta were to pull an upset over Khabib, the heavy favorite, we could see a strained relationship with the New York State Athletic Commission.
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