Iaquinta replaces Holloway to face Khabib Nurmagomedov in the main fight of UFC 223

Iaquinta is Khabib's new rival at UFC 223. Photo: Reproduction / YouTube @ufc

UFC 223 has a new main fight. After the New York Athletic Commission blocked Max Holloway to compete for the lightweight belt against Khabib Nurmagomedov, Ultimate fought a race against time and called To the fifth to face the Russian, this Saturday, in Brooklyn (USA).

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Iaquinta was only Ultimate's fourth option for the dispute. He was scheduled to face Paul felder on the show's preliminary card, but won an unexpected promotion and will compete in the main fight of the night. Before him, Holloway, who had already been called up last Sunday (01) to replace the interim champion Tony Ferguson, was removed from the show this Friday morning (06), as the athletic commission understood that the weight cut represented a risk to his health. The UFC tried to put the former champion Anthony Pettis in the dispute, but 'Showtime' demanded US$ 1 million in salary, while the event offered US$ 500 thousand. Without agreement, 'plan c' was Paul felder, but the New York Commission again barred the fight, as the fighter was not even in the lightweight rankings. With no options, Al Iaquinta took the fight and faces Khabib Nurmagomedov in the main fight of the night.

To the fifth has a professional record of 13 wins, three defeats and one draw. Born in New York, the fighter will play at home in an attempt to break the bank and defeat Khabib Nurmagomedov. He comes from five consecutive victories, the last being over Diego Sanchez, in April 2017.

With the changes, the UFC 223 card, which would initially have 13 duels, will only have nine fights. Check out the show's fight program below:

MAIN CARD (23h, Brasilia):

To the fifth x Khabib Nurmagomedov – fight for the lightweight belt

Rose namajunas x Joanna Jedrzejczyk – fight for the women’s strawweight belt

Renato Moicano x Calvin kattar

Zabit Magomedsharipov x Kyle Bochniak

PRELIMINARY CARD (19:15 p.m., Brasília):

Karolina Kowalkiewicz x Felice herrig

Joe lauzon x Chris Gruetzemacher

Bec Rawlings x Ashlee Evans-Smith

Evan dunham x Olivier Aubin-Mercier

Devin Clark x Mike Rodriguez

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