Amanda Nunes.Christian Petersen/Getty Images
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes has been scratched from her title defense against Valentina Shevchenko after being hospitalized just a few hours before UFC 213.
UFC President Dana White confirmed the pay-per-view show’s main event was canceled Saturday.
According to White, Nunes said she “doesn’t feel good,” but that the doctor had cleared her to fight.
Told by @danawhite that “the doctor cleared her to fight…she said she doesn’t feel good. It is what it is. You can’t make anyone fight.”
— Lance Pugmire (@latimespugmire) July 8, 2017
Nunes (14-4) claimed the 135-pound title from Miesha Tate last July. After Nunes stopped Ronda Rousey in December, she was scheduled to make her second title defense in a rematch with Shevchenko (14-2).
Instead, for the second straight year, the UFC has been forced to cancel the main event of its annual International Fight Week show at late notice.
Last July, Jon Jones was removed from his bout against Daniel Cormier three days before for violating the UFC’s anti-doping policy.
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