5 times that a UFC main event was made weaker due to a last-minute change

#3 UFC on Fuel 9 – 04/06/13

Original main event: Alexander Gustafsson vs. Gegard Mousasi

Replacement main event: Gegard Mousasi vs. Ilir Latifi

Ilir Latifi was a late replacement for Alexander Gustafsson at UFC on Fuel 9

When the UFC began to absorb the roster of the defunct StrikeForce promotion in early 2013, one of the biggest names that fans were clamoring to see in the Octagon was Gegard Mousasi.

Long considered one of the best 205lbers outside of the UFC, Mousasi duly signed a deal with the promotion and when he was announced as headlining UFC on Fuel 9 from Stockholm against top contender Alexander Gustafsson, eyebrows were raised.

After beating Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua in December 2012, Gustafsson was actually pegged to get the next Light-Heavyweight title shot, and so it was a surprise to see him matched with Mousasi, but most fans were excited anyway as it was a chance to see Mousasi against a top-three contender instantly. Of course, it wasn’t to be.

Just four days before the event, it was announced that Gustafsson was out of the fight due to a cut received in sparring that week.

Due to the incredibly late notice, the UFC couldn’t secure a strong replacement and so it looked like the fight would be scrapped – until Gustafsson’s training partner and fellow Swede Ilir Latifi agreed to step in.

Latifi has since gained a cult following from fans, but at the time nobody had heard of ‘The Sledgehammer’ and so it was hard not to be disappointed.

The fight was even changed from the regular five rounds for the main event into a three-round fight. And in execution, it was dull too – Mousasi came in with a knee injury and simply used his jab to keep Latifi at bay for the full fight, winning a decision.