In a dramatic turn of events, Nate Diaz will now fight Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 after Khamzat Chimaev dramatically missed weight.
Diaz was scheduled to meet soaring contender Chimaev in the last bout on his UFC contract, but the matchup was axed after Chimaev missed weight by 7.5lb and Diaz refused to accept a catchweight fight. Whilst Diaz successfully weighed in at 171lb, reports circulated that Chimaev was having trouble making the welterweight limit and they proved true when the Chechen stepped on the scale at 178.5lb.
In the co-main event of UFC 279, Ferguson was scheduled to face Li Jingliang with both fighters weighing in at 171lb for their fight. The UFC pulled Ferguson from his fight with Jingliang to face Diaz in the main event and Jingliang will now face Daniel Rodriguez, who was moved from his catchweight fight with Kevin Holland. Chimaev has now been booked to fight Holland in the co-main event.
