The UFC 279 card has been rejigged at the last minute, with Nate Diaz now taking on Tony Ferguson in a stunning five-round main event.
Diaz was slated to take on Khamzat Chimaev but the 11-0 fighter missed weight by 7.5 pounds. Rumours had been rife on Chimaev having difficulties with his weight-cut and he stepped onto the scales at the UFC Apex and came in at 178.5 pounds.
The limit for welterweight fights is 171 pounds, which Diaz met comfortably. The Stockton slugger still wanted to compete and alternative arrangements were made by the UFC for him to face Ferguson, who was originally in the co-main event against Li Jingliang.
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He is looking to end a four-fight losing streak, with his last win coming three years ago against Donald Cerrone.
UFC president Dana White provided an update and confirmed the new UFC 279 card when he went live on his official social media channels.
The bout at the T-Mobile Arena is Diaz's final fight in his current UFC contract. He is returning the Octagon for the first time since being outpointed by new welterweight champion Leon Edwards in June 2021.
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Chimaev will still be fighting on the card, with white announcing he will take on Kevin Holland in a spicy co-main event.
What's more, Jingliang's new opponent in the reshuffling is Daniel Rodriguez.
Topics: UFC, Nate Diaz, Khamzat Chimaev, Tony Ferguson
Josh Lawless