Lyoto Machida will replace Michael Bisping against Mark Munoz in the main event of UFC Fight Night 30.
Bisping withdrew from the match due to an eye injury , UFC president Dana White told ESPN Friday. The 34-year-old underwent eye surgery for a detached retina earlier this year after his technical decision win over Alan Belcher at UFC 159 in April. Bisping lost all the peripheral vision in his right eye , but recovered enough to get a match against Munoz in Manchester next month. However, the Brit was still experiencing complications with the same eye, forcing him to drop out of the fight.
“We’re going to get him the best treatment possible,” White said. “Hopefully he’ll be able to get through this thing.”
Enter “the Dragon.”
The former light heavyweight champion was expected to make his middleweight debut against Tim Kennedy at UFC Fight for the Troops 3 on November 6, but was pulled from the match to face Munoz in Bisping’s place. Kennedy took to Twitter to tell Munoz that he was “super mad” he took Machida from him. He solicited Wanderlei Silva, Nick Diaz, and a few others to replace his opponent.
Lyoto Machida (19-4) is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Phil Davis at UFC 163 last month, while Mark Munoz (13-3) is coming off a unanimous decision victory against Tim Boetsch at UFC 162 in July. Munoz also has the advantage of having fought in the middleweight division since 2009, while this will be Machida’s first time fighting at 185 pounds.
UFC Fight Night 30 will be held October 26 at the Phones 4u Arena in Manchester. Ross Pearson will face Melvin Guillard in the co-main event of the evening. In the online preliminary card, Rosi Sexton will face Jessica Andrade in a women’s bantamweight match.
The full UFC Fight Night 30 card is as follows:
Main card
- Lyoto Machida vs Mark Muñoz
- Ross Pearson vs. Melvin Guillard
- Jimi Manuwa vs. Ryan Jimmo
- Norman Parke vs. Jon Tuck
- Alessio Sakara vs. Magnus Cedenblad
- Phil Harris vs. John Lineker
Preliminary card (Online Prelims)
- Al Iaquinta vs. Piotr Hallman
- Luke Barnatt vs. Andrew Craig
- Rosi Sexton vs. Jessica Andrade
- Andy Ogle vs. Cole Miller
- Jimy Hettes vs. Mike Wilkinson
- Brad Scott vs. Michael Kuiper
