UFC: Modafferi replaces Eubanks in TUF 26 Finale main event

Roxanne Modafferi (Image Courtesy: Youtube)

Bengaluru, December 1: Sijara Eubanks was all set to fight Nicco Montano for the inaugural women's flyweight championship at TUF 26 on Friday (December 1), but a bad weight cut forced her out.

Now, Roxanne Modafferi, who lost to Eubanks in the semi-finals, will step in to face Montano for the belt with just a day's notice.

UFC comfirmed the news via twitter,

Sijara Eubanks was hospitalized this morning and has been pulled from her bout against Nicco Montano at Friday's The Ultimate Fighter Finale. Stepping in for Eubanks to fight in the inaugural UFC women’s flyweight championship bout will be TUF 26 semifinalist @Roxyfighter.
— UFC (@ufc) November 30, 2017

Former Invicta FC Flyweight Champion, Barb Honchak, who was originally scheduled to face Modafferi at the event will now face former Invicta FC Bantamweight Champion Lauren Murphy.

Eubanks released a statement on the situation, and she sounds pretty positive for someone who just lost her shot at making history.

First of all, I’m a champion. Point blank. I will be UFC champion, but it’s God’s will that it won’t be Friday night. I’m a gangster and I’ve cut more weight than most male fighters, and unfortunately there were some miscalculations this cut, no excuses, I worked my ass off and went out on my shield. I was hospitalized early this morning for kidney failure but best believe I’ma be right back training and right back after that belt. This game is full of ups and downs, true champs know that and bounce back. Nicco and Roxanne I’m sure will have a great fight, and best wishes to both those ladies. True class, those two. Nothing changes, I’m still the queen and I will claim my throne. Thank you to all my coaches, friends and family and the wonderful staff at UFC. God is good and I am truly blessed. #Repost @ufconfox (@get_repost) ・・・ BREAKING: Sijara Eubanks is OUT. Roxanne Modafferi is IN vs. Nicco Montano for the UFC women’s flyweight title! Who wins now? #TUF26Finale

A post shared by Sijara "SarJ" Eubanks (@sarjncharge) on Nov 30, 2017 at 12:15pm PST

"First of all, I'm a champion. Point blank," she wrote.

"I will be UFC champion, but it's God's will that it won't be Friday night. I'm a gangster and I've cut more weight than most male fighters, and unfortunately there were some miscalculations this cut, no excuses, I worked my ass off and went out on my shield."

"I was hospitalized early this morning for kidney failure but best believe I'ma be right back training and right back after that belt. This game is full of ups and downs, true champs know that and bounce back.

"Nicco and Roxanne I'm sure will have a great fight, and best wishes to both those ladies. True class, those two. Nothing changes, I'm still the queen and I will claim my throne."

"Thank you to all my coaches, friends and family and the wonderful staff at UFC," she finished. "God is good and I am truly blessed."

HERE IT IS!

The FIRST. EVER. women's flyweight champ will be crowned when @NiccoMontano squares off w/ @RoxyFighter! LIVE & FREE on @FS1! pic.twitter.com/fPjgGGyXaY
— UFC (@ufc) December 1, 2017