Eric Spicely out of UFC on ESPN+ 31 bout vs. Markus Perez; replacement found (original) (raw)

Eric Spicely won’t be fighting at Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 31.

Rhode Island’s Spicely (12-5 MMA, 2-4 UFC) has fallen out of his bout for an undisclosed reason after making the trip out to Las Vegas. His opponent, Markus Perez (12-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC), is expected to remain on the card, with a source telling MMA Junkie’s Farah Hannoun that promotional newcomer Charles Ontiveros is stepping in.

I’ve been told that Charles Ontiveros is stepping in to face Markus Perez at #UFCVegas5

— Farah Hannoun (@Farah_Hannoun) July 31, 2020

Spicely commented on his withdrawal after it was first reported by MMA Junkie, saying the move was due to a weight cut that went “horribly wrong” because of antidepressants use.

“For the sake of transparency this was my first weight cut since starting antidepressants due to the head trauma I sustained in the Deron Winn fight,” Spicely tweeted. “Needless to say it went horribly wrong and my fight is off. I will figure this problem out and hopefully be able to compete again,”

For the sake of transparency this was my first weight cut since starting antidepressants due to the head trauma I sustained in the Deron Winn fight. Needless to say it went horribly wrong and my fight is off. I will figure this problem out and hopefully be able to compete again. https://t.co/ZYro3waykE

— éS (@EricSpicely) July 31, 2020

Spicely, 33, is in his second stint with the promotion. After a “Fight of the Night” loss to Winn in his promotional return, Spicely was expected to fight Brendan Allen in October. However, the Tristar fighter was forced to pull out due to injury.

UFC on ESPN+ 31 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card streams on ESPN+ after prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.

With the change, the UFC on ESPN+ 31 lineup includes:

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