The highly anticipated UFC 296 fight between rising star Ian Garry and seasoned fighter Vicente Luque has been scrapped.
UFC CEO Dana White revealed on Twitter that Garry is suffering from pneumonia, stating, “Ian Garry started with the flu that turned into pneumonia. So that fight is off and is not happening. It is true.”
This announcement came shortly after Garry was notably absent from the media day, sparking speculation about his health and readiness for the fight.
Chael Sonnen provided further insight into the situation in a recent video. Sonnen explained, “Ian Garry is out. He was at a hospital himself, not feeling well and has taken his child to the hospital right now. The ER, the child has the same symptoms that he had.”
Sonnen, known for his straightforward analysis, emphasized the legitimacy of Garry’s health concerns.
“It does appear to be very legitimate,” he said, acknowledging the seriousness of the situation. He also highlighted the impact of Garry’s withdrawal on the event, noting, “Losing Garry is not like losing Luque. In fairness to your pay-per-view ability to draw and sell from a monetizable business standpoint, Garry is helpful.”
The cancellation of this fight raises questions about the future matchups and the reshuffling of the UFC 296 card.
Sonnen speculated on potential changes, suggesting, “You could begin to put Belal with Rakhmonov, which would move Thompson to Luque.” However, he also acknowledged the complexity of such changes, adding, “I don’t know that changing the card in its entirety to preserve a matchup with Luque and working Belal in makes as much sense.”
As the UFC community processes this unexpected development, fans are left wondering what’s next for both Garry and Luque. While the health and safety of the fighters are paramount, the cancellation is undoubtedly a disappointment for those eagerly anticipating this clash of talents.
In the end, as Sonnen aptly put it, “The entire situation is unusual.” But in the world of MMA, the unexpected is often just around the corner.