Jamie Varner has fallen ill backstage at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 16 Finale at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. In response, the Nevada State Athletic Commission has called off his scheduled bout against Melvin Guillard.
Usually, this happens weeks before a fight is scheduled to take place. Fighter A gets injured and is forced to call off his bout against Fighter B. Fighter C comes in as a replacement and the show goes on.
Not this time.
Jamie Varner, who was scheduled to take on Melvin Guillard tonight (Sat., Dec. 15, 2012) at the TUF 16 Finale at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, fell ill backstage. After a visit with a doctor, the Nevada State Athletic Commission has deemed him unfit to go ahead with his fight tonight.
So it's off. Just like that.
According to MMAFighting.com, both men will receive their show money. In addition, NSAC Director Keith Kizer gave the following quote:
"He was sick all day, but he still wanted to fight. He was throwing up backstage. The doctor checked him out and he determined he couldn't go. It's just one of those things, like an athlete training for the Olympics for four years and then getting sick the week he's supposed to go."
No word just yet from the UFC on if the two will be scheduled for a future card but UFC 155: "Dos Santos vs. Velasquez 2" on Dec. 29 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena seems like a perfect candidate, no?
For complete results and blow-by-blow coverage of the TUF 16 Finale click here.
UPDATE: According to a tweet from Ariel Helwani, the bout has in fact been moved to UFC 155:
"(Dana White) just told me that the plan is to move Varner vs. Guillard to UFC 155, which is in two weeks in Las Vegas."
There you have it.
Source TUF 16 Finale: Jamie Varner sick, fight against Melvin Guillard called off (UPDATED)
