Chimaev fails to make weight, faces different foe

KHAMZAT Chimaev won’t be facing Nate Diaz in the main event of UFC 279 on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 (PH time), at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas after the hard-hitting Swedish-Russian striker failed to make weight.Chimaev, the No. 3 rated welterweight, weighed 7.5 pounds over the welterweight limit.Because Chimaev missed weight, the UFC was forced to shuffle card and save the event.Diaz will face fellow veteran Tony Ferguson in the main event.Chimaev will face Kevin Holland in a catchweight bout.Ferguson was originally supposed to take on Chinese veteran Li Jingliang, while Holland was supposed to fight Daniel Rodriguez.Li (19-7) and Rodriguez (16-2) are now taking on each other in a catchweight fight.Diaz and Ferguson are both veterans in the UFC.The brash Diaz has been fighting in the UFC since 2007. He’s the winner of Ultimate Fighter 5.The 31-year-old Diaz owns wins over the likes of Conor McGregor, Gray Maynard, Anthony Pettis, Jim Miller, Donald Cerrone and Takanori Gomi.Diaz lost his last fight by unanimous decision to current UFC welterweight titleholder Leon Edwards.The 36-year-old Ferguson is also an Ultimate Fighter winner, winning the welterweight tournament of the reality series’ 13th season.He has been fighting in the UFC since 2011. He owns wins over the likes of Josh Thomson, Edson Barboza, Rafael Dos Anjos, Pettis and Ceronne.Ferguson lost his last four contests and recently against Michael Chandler with a picture perfect head knockout.Diaz is 21-13, while Ferguson is 26-7.Meanwhile, Chimaev is on a hot streak in the UFC and is very close at getting a title shot. He’s coming off a unanimous win decision over Gilbert Burns.Holland won back-to-back fights, beating Alex Oliveira and Tim Means.Chimaev is 11-0, while Holland is 23-7.In the undercard, Irene Aldana (13-6) faces Macy Chiasson (9-2), Johnny Walker (18-7) locks horns with Ion Cutelaba (16-7-1), Hakeem Dawodo (13-2-1) trades blows with Julian Erosa (27-10), Jailton Almeda (16-2) is up against unbeaten Anton Turkalj (8-0), Dennis Tiuliulin (10-6) squares off with Jamie Pickett (13-7), Jake Collier (13-7) slugs it out with Chris Barnett (22-8), Norma Dumount (7-2) is fighting Danyelle Wolf (1-0), Chad Anheliger (12-5) trades strikes with Alatengheili (15-8-1), Melissa Martinez (7-0) faces off with Elise Reed (5-2) and Darian Weeks (5-2) is up against Yohan Lainesse (8-1).