UFC 219 loses main card matchup due to John Lineker tooth infection
Less than a week before the show, UFC 219 has lost one of its main card matchups.
MMA Fighting first reported today that John Lineker won’t be able to fight at the pay-per-view due to a tooth infection. Lineker will have emergency surgery and is expected to return to training in approximately three weeks.
Lineker was scheduled to face Jimmie Rivera in what was the third biggest fight on the card. The UFC hasn’t confirmed whether Rivera will still fight at the PPV, though MMA Fighting noted that they’re looking for a replacement opponent. Lineker himself was an injury replacement in the bout after Dominick Cruz was forced out of it when he broke his arm.
UFC 219 is the company’s last show of the year and will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday night. With the UFC yet to announce Rivera’s updated plans for the show, here’s the current main card lineup with Lineker out:
- UFC women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg defending against Holly Holm
- Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Edson Barboza
- Cynthia Calvillo vs. Carla Esparza
- Carlos Condit vs. Neil Magny