AUSTIN, Texas – It’s become a reasonably common occurrence this time of week in MMA: UFC on ESPN 52 has lost a fight the day before the event.
The featherweight bout on the preliminary card between Melquizael Costa (20-6 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and Steve Garcia (14-5 MMA, 3-2 UFC) was scrapped Friday due to a Garcia illness. UFC play-by-play voice Brendan Fitzgerald announced the news ahead of the official weigh-ins, which he emceed at the host hotel in Austin, Texas.
No further details were provided, and it is not yet known if Garcia’s illness is weight cut-related. UFC on ESPN 52 takes place Saturday at Moody Center in Austin. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.
