Fight is Off! UFC Jacksonville Loses a Fight Due to Botched Weight Cut

The UFC Jacksonville card has just sustained a huge hit. The bout between Marvin Vettori and Karl Roberson has been removed from the card for tonight’s event, reports ESPN’s Ariel Helwani.

Thankfully the cancellation is unrelated to the Coronavirus epidemic. Helwani reports that Karl Roberson took ill following a botched weight cut. The authorities moved Roberson to a local hospital.

The medical staff discharged Roberson on Wednesday morning. However, his illness has left him medically unfit to fight.

However, it is interesting to note that Roberson was unable to make weight ahead of his fight. Coming in at 187.5lbs that is 1.5lbs over the 186lbs limit for non-title middleweight bouts.

“Tonight’s Karl Roberson vs. Marvin Vettori fight is off, per multiple sources. Roberson fell ill after a tough weight cut. Non-COVID related. More shortly,” said Ariel Helwani on Twitter

Baby K is currently riding a two-fight win streak, having bested Roman Kopylov back in November 2019 at UFC Fight Night: Zabit vs Kattar. The win for Roberson came via a rear-naked choke in the third round.

The American southpaw previously took on Wellington Turman in July 2019 at UFC Fight Night: De Randamie vs. Ladd. He emerged victorious over the Brazilian via split decision with the judges’ cards reading, 29-28, 29-28, 28-29.

Glover Teixeira handed Roberson his most recent loss, back in January 2019. Teixeira who won with the help of an arm triangle coincidentally takes on Anthony Smith in tonight’s headliner.

Karl Roberson costs Marvin Vettori another fight

This cancellation comes at the worst time possible. The Italian middleweight has been desperately waiting for an opportunity to get back into the octagon.

At first, Vettori was looking to take on Darren Stewart at UFC London in March. However, complications due to the Coronavirus epidemic resulted in the fight getting scrapped.

Following the UFC London fiasco, the promotion rebooked him to take on Roberson on April 25. That fight was moved up to tonight. However, it seems like it will be long before we see Vettori go toe to toe with someone in the octagon

Marvin Vettori, not so dissimilar to Roberson is riding a two-fight win streak as well. He took on Cezar Ferreira and Andrew Sanchez and triumphed. His most recent loss came to the undefeated UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya back in April 2018.