'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYH/8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABP/aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAAj82Dq//EAB8QAAICAgEFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIDAQUREgAEBhOB4f/aAAgBAQABPwDu+pNVfWK8aAGqUSoYBTtqS84GMcJXWbTgk+4+c//EABcRAQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAAT/2gAIAQIBAT8A51qBd//EABcRAAMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABBCH/2gAIAQMBAT8Aqxn/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Robbie Lawler has pulled out of his UFC 282 matchup against Santiago Ponzinibbio with an undisclosed injury.
UFC 282 is starting to become a cursed fight card. Jiri Prochazka withdrew from the main event with an injury, leading to Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev being moved up to fight for the light heavyweight title. Brett Okamoto has now revealed that the main card bout between Lawler vs. Ponzinibbio is also off. ESPN MMA made the announcement on Instagram by saying:
“Lawler out of UFC 282. Former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler has been forced to withdraw from his bout against Santiago Ponzinibbio due to an undisclosed injury, sources told ESPN.”
ESPN MMA also had this to say about Ponzinibbio potentially staying on the UFC 282 fight card:
“The UFC is working on finding a potential replacement for Santiago Ponzinibbio, Robbie Lawler’s opponent, sources tell @bokamotoespn. #UFC282”
Lawler was looking to get back in the win column after losing by a standing TKO against Bryan Barberena in July. Meanwhile, Ponzinibbio has fallen on hard times after losing three of his last four fights since returning from a three-year layoff. With only days until UFC 282, it’s unlikely the UFC will find the 36-year-old a new opponent to replace 'Ruthless'.
Several fighters are interested in replacing Robbie Lawler against Santiago Ponzinibbio
Whenever a short-notice fight opportunity arises, some fighters are genuinely interested in stepping in. Once ESPN MMA announced Robbie Lawler had pulled out of UFC 282, three fighters were in the comment section looking to fight Santiago Ponzinibbio:
“I’m in @ufc @espnmma call me! - Impa Kasanganay”
“👀💰 - Renato Moicano”
“I’m in - Kevin Holland”
Kevin Holland lost a devastating TKO against Stephen ‘Wonder Boy’ Thompson several days ago, so he likely wouldn’t be approved by a state commission. Renato Moicano is intriguing because he didn’t take a lot of damage against Brad Riddell in early November, but who knows if he's actually interested.
The final choice, Impa Kasanganay, would be a solid option if the UFC wanted to re-sign him. Kasanganay was cut from the UFC in 2021 and has gone 1-1 since. Although the 28-year-old is unlikely to get the call, the UFC could be desperate to get an opponent for Ponzinibbio. ‘Argentine Dagger’ will have to wait and see what the UFC can do.
