An intriguing lightweight showdown between Magomed Mustafaev and Yamato Nishikawa will not be happening at UFC 280 as originally planned.
The Las Vegas-based promotion confirmed the cancellation on Tuesday, citing “multiple issues” in a statement. It was initially rumored that the bout was scrapped because Nishikawa was still under contract with another organization, but the Japanese fighter denied those reports.
UFC 280 will move forward with 13 bouts. The card takes place on Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi and is headlined by a lightweight title clash between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev.