UFC News: Michael Bisping Apologizes For Fight Cancellation, Okami Update, UFC World Tour Miami
- The UFC took their UFC 168 World Tour to Miami yesterday. You can watch a recap in the video above.
- UFC middleweight fighter Michael Bisping (24-5) has withdrawn from a planned bout with Mark Munoz (13-3). ESPN reported first that The Count suffered an eye injury, preventing him from fighting Munoz. Bisping posted an apology for the unfortunate news to Twitter.
"Words cannot describe how sad I am having to withdraw from my fight. My sincere apologies to everyone who bought tickets. I will be back soon.
"I apologise to the UFC, to Munoz and to everyone who bought tickets."
Bisping and Munoz were to headline UFC Fight Night 30, which is scheduled for October 26. Debuting as a middleweight, Lyoto Machida (19-4) will take Bisping's place. That switch leaves Tim Kennedy (16-4) without an opponent for his scheduled main event bout at UFC Fight Night 31: UFC Fight for the Troops 3, which takes place November 6.
- One-time title challenger Yushin "Thunder" Okami (13-5) has been released from the UFC. MMAJunkie first reported Okami's release, which follows a first-round TKO loss to Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza. Prior to that loss, Okami was riding a three-fight winning streak.
Okami is apparently already in talks with the World Series of Fighting. WSOF president Ray Sefo tweeted in regards to Okami: "We're in talks with his team..." Also, promotional matchmaker Ali Abdel-Aziz told the fighter, "you have a home at [WSOF]."