ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 21: Rashad Evans walks away after a round against Jon Jones during their light heavyweight title bout for UFC 145 at Philips Arena on April 21, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Former UFC Light-Heavyweight champion Rashad Evans has been pulled from his preliminary middleweight bout against Tim Kennedy at UFC 205 due to an issue with his pre-fight medicals.
The pair were supposed to face off in Saturday’s event at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.
However, according to Evans, the New York State Athletic Commission found a problem with his medicals and wouldn’t clear him to obtain a license to compete in the state.
“I got pulled of the card because I didn’t meet the NY commissions medical standards,” Evans wrote on Instagram on Tuesday. “I am medically fine so please don’t worry about me. I will share more at another time but right now I just need to digest months of hard work and preparations.”
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!
A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.
UFC 205 was supposed to be a homecoming for Evans, who is a New York native, while also marking his first time competing at 185 pounds.
“I’m healthy”, Evans told MMAFighting.com. I don’t want anyone worrying about me. I’m fine, physically speaking. Never felt better. It’s just the commission and their rules. I guess they have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to this.”
Kennedy took to Twitter on Tuesday asking several fighters to accept a bout with him after news that Evans was being pulled from the card. He also praised the UFC for how it handled the fallout of his fight:
Both Evans and Kennedy will be paid in full for the fight, along with their promised win bonuses. Kennedy was reportedly planning to retire after the big New York bout.
There is another middleweight card on UFC 205 as Tim Boetsch takes on Rafael Natal in the early prelims.
Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have agreed to a 3-year, $165 million deal.…
For the final play of the game, while trailing 12-7, Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood sailed…
Frances Tiafoe has done it again at the US Open and comes back from two…
Ben Shelton won the biggest match of his life, finally beating Carlos Alcaraz, whom he…
Aaron Judge has made his long-awaited return from injury to help the New York Yankees…
Chicago Bears legend and former fullback Matt Suhey passed away this weekend. Suhey was part…