This Saturday’s UFC Vegas 117 card has lost two fights, but replacements are being sought for the injured fighters who withdrew from it.
Heavy.com‘s Marcel Dorff confirmed with sources that welterweight Nicolas Dalby is out of this weekend’s fight against fellow veteran Jeremiah Wells. He also confirmed Nolan King‘s report that Trey Ogden is out of his fight against Tommy Gantt. According to Dorff, the UFC is currently seeking replacements for both injured fighters, so the hope is that Wells and Gantt will remain on the card. As of this time of writing, however, neither Wells nor Gantt has an opponent, and both fighters are awaiting word on whether or not someone will step in to fight them on short notice.
“Both Jeremiah Wells and Tommy Gantt are without opponents for #UFCVegas117. Nicolas Dalby had to pull out with an injury. Trey Ogden also injured (per @mma_kings ) UFC looking to keep Wells and Gantt both on the card (I’ve been told). No possible replacements named yet,” Dorff wrote on X.
Jeremiah Wells vs. Nicolas Dalby Scrapped
A welterweight bout between Wells and Dalby would have featured two of the oldest fighters in the 170 lbs weight class going up against each other. Wells is 39 years old, while Dalby is 41 years old, so both are graybeards in their weight class. That being said, they are both capable fighters still at this point in their careers, with each of them coming off a win in their last fight.
Wells is coming off a unanimous decision win over Themba Gorimbo, while Dalby pulled off a big upset when he beat UFC newcomer Saygid Izagakhmaev via split decision. Therefore, this was good matchmaking from the UFC’s part between two fighters at the same stage of their careers.
With Dalby out, the UFC is looking for someone to step in on short notice to fight Wells. While it’s possible someone on the current UFC roster could take the fight, it feels more likely someone from the regional scene will be signed on short notice to take the fight instead. If and when Wells has a new opponent, Dorff will confirm the new fight for Heavy.
Tommy Gantt vs. Trey Ogden Scrapped
The other fight that has been scrapped was a lightweight bout between Tommy Gantt and Trey Ogden.
Gantt is one of the top lightweight prospects in the sport right now, and he was set to make his UFC debut against Ogden. Gantt is 33 years old and has an undefeated 11-0, 1 NC record in MMA. He was signed to the UFC after getting a finish on Dana White‘s Contender Series, and he has been training with UFC legend Daniel Cormier in preparation for his UFC debut.
As for Ogden, he is 36 and is 3-3, 1 NC overall in the UFC. He is the head coach at Marathon MMA and has a bright mind for the sport. Unfortunately, injuries took him out of this fight, but hopefully, a replacement can be found for Gantt on short notice. Again, it will likely be a UFC newcomer given the extremely short notice.
UFC Vegas 117 is headlined by a five-round featherweight bout between Arnold Allen and Melquizael Costa.
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