Former interim UFC middleweight title challenger, Kelvin Gastelum is out of his scheduled UFC Vegas 67 headliner in opposition to Nassourdine Imavov on January 14. – on account of a mouth harm.
As per an preliminary report from ESPN MMA reporter, Brett Okamoto as per UFC officers, Gastelum has been changed by middleweight contender, Sean Strickland, who now faces Imavov at a brief discover gentle heavyweight restrict on January 14.
“First UFC principal occasion of 2023 has underwent a last-minute change,” Okamoto tweeted. “Gastelum out with a mouth harm, Sean Strickland has agreed to exchange him in opposition to Imavov. 5 rounds, however now 205 kilos per UFC officers. That is now again to again UFC occasions headlined by Strickland.”
Headlining UFC Vegas 66 simply final month within the closing promotional occasion of 2022, Sean Strickland suffered a detailed, contentious break up choice loss in opposition to one-time title challenger, Jared Cannonier.
12-3 as an expert, Russian-born middleweight contender, Imavov is at the moment within the midst of a three-fight successful run, most not too long ago beating Joaquin Buckley, so as to add to finishes over Edmen Shahbazyan, and Ian Heinisch.
Sean Strickland will try and snap a two-fight shedding skid
Trying to snap a run of two consecutive losses, Strickland dropped a surprising first spherical KO loss in opposition to present middleweight champion, Alex Pereira again in July of final 12 months throughout Worldwide Combat Week.
Affected by 5 losses in his final six promotional outings, Gastelum dropped back-to-back headliners in opposition to former champion, Robert Whittaker, and the aforenoted, Cannonier over the course of 2021.
Touted as a future top-contender on the middleweight restrict, Imavov’s sole promotional loss got here in a doubtful choice defeat in opposition to Phil Hawes, following a debut success in opposition to Jordan Williams.
Seeing a seven-fight successful run halted in opposition to Pereira final summer season, the outspoken Strickland most not too long ago defeated Jack Hermansson in a principal occasion tilt final February.
UFC Vegas 67 takes place on January 14. from the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada.
