Just hours before they were set to make their walk to the cage, a pair of light heavyweights will have to wait.
The fight between Maxim Grishin (32-9-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) and Philipe Lins (15-5 MMA, 1-2 UFC) has been scratched at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 211 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. UFC officials announced the cancellation during the broadcast on ESPN+.
UFC play-by-play voice Jon Anik didn’t say which fighter was unable to fight, though reportedly it was Lins who was not cleared. Anik said the fight was moved from the prelims to the main card earlier Saturday specifically to give the affected fighter additional time to work out his issue. Ultimately, that didn’t happen, and the fight was called off.
The announcement was made four fights into the event, which is taking place under an on-site media blackout – save for broadcast partner ESPN – imposed by the UFC earlier this week. No reason was given for media members allowed to be in attendance at media day and weigh-ins, but not the fights.
It was the second fight to be pulled from the card at the 11th hour. Friday, a women’s strawweight bout between Jessica Penne and Tabatha Ricci was scrapped just before the weigh-ins due to a Penne illness.
Grishin outworked William Knight for a decision win in February. He was set to come back against Jailton Almeida in May, but had to pull out. Lins snapped a two-fight skiid in April with a decision win over Marcin Prachnio, which was his first victory since he won the PFL’s heavyweight season in 2018.
