Tony Ferguson Receives New Opponent, Loses Main Event Slot

Red hot No. 3-ranked UFC lightweight contender Tony “El Cucuy” Ferguson has won an ultra-impressive seven straight and was slated to main event the upcoming UFC Fight Night 91 card on July 13, 2016 opposite No. 10-ranked Michael “Maverick” Chiesa. Yesterday (June 27, 2016), however, it was reported that Chiesa had suffered a back injury that would force him to withdraw from the bout.

According to a report from MMAJunkie, the UFC has called upon a new opponent for Ferguson, but it’s come at a price, as “El Cucuy” has lost his main event slot. Instead, he will now co-headline the card in a clash with UFC newcomer Landon Vannata.

Vannata, a member of the famed Jackson-Winklejohn Gym in New Mexico, boasts an impressive undefeated professional record of 8-0 with seven stoppages. He will undoubtedly be jumping up in competition and facing off with his toughest test to date when he meets Ferguson.

“El Cucuy” was most recently seen scoring a victory over deadly striker Edson Barboza. He was then slated to take on top contender and undefeated phenom Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov in April, but he was forced to withdraw from the bout with a lung injury.

Moving up into the main event spot will be an intriguing bantamweight bout between former title challenger Michael “Mayday” MacDonald and Brazilian slugger John “Hands of Stone” Lineker.

UFC Fight Night 91 will go down from the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.