UFC 304 is down by one.
Bantamweight Ramon Taveras will miss the Co-Op Live event in Manchester, England, on July 27 due to a “serious injury,” he announced in a lengthy Instagram post on Wednesday.
Taveras (10-2, MMA) faces Ireland’s Caolan Loughran (9-1, 1-1 UFC) in the bout. It is unclear if the promotion is looking for a replacement.
“I am disappointed to have to post this but I trust in God's plan and will make wise decisions to not make the situation worse or delay my return,” Taveras wrote on Instagram. “Today I had to withdraw from next Saturday's fight due to a serious injury. I have worked so hard in this fight camp and it's unfortunate that it has ended this way.”
Taveras did not disclose details about the injury but suggested the camp had been a mental and physical battle that ended in disappointment.
“I came out of depression and into the best shape I've ever been in,” Taveras wrote. “I was disciplined and coming out of being fat (176 pounds) took me mentally. … But I promise to keep that same mentality during my recovery and become the best version of myself in my recovery. You all deserve the best of me and I intend to give you the best of me. I would hate to let this midget have an advantage over me because of my injury.”
LaFran, who is not normally one to keep his mouth shut, expressed his dissatisfaction in a social media post minutes after Taveras' announcement, suggesting that LaFran wanted to remain on the card.
“Caught Dee slipping out,” Loughran wrote to X. “I texted him a few days after the fight was set to say I would. This fight isn't for just anyone. UFC is the best in the world and they'll work something out.” I’ll fight anyone because I’ve been here before, it’s Yeno.”
With the changes, the UFC 304 lineup looks like this:
- Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad – Welterweight Championship
- Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes – Interim Heavyweight Championship
- Bobby Green vs. Paddy Pimblett
- Manel Kape vs. Muhammad Mokaev
- Arnold Allen vs. Giga Chikadze
- Daniel Pineda vs. Nathaniel Wood
- Bruna Brasil vs. Molly McCann
- Caolan Lachlan vs. TBA
- Lukasz Brzeski vs. Mick Parkin
- Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Gregory Rodriguez
- Oban Elliott vs. Preston Parsons
- Kiefer Crosby vs. Sam Patterson
- Shauna Bannon vs. Alice Ardelen
- Modestas Bukauskas vs. Marcin Prachnio
For more on the card, check out MMA Junkie's UFC 304 event hub.
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