Erstwhile bantamweight champion Renan Barao has been ruled out of his rematch with T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 177 for health and safety reasons.
MMA Weekly via Yahoo! Sports is reporting that Barao was not feeling well as he had to double his efforts in cutting weight. The decision was reached just before the two fighters were to meet for the weigh-ins.
ESPN.com quoted UFC president Dana White as saying: "He was cutting weight and he fainted. They got freaked out and they did the right thing. They called an ambulance to come get him."
He added: "You've got enough money to get a real nutritionist in there to watch what you're eating. Guys have to start doing this the right way or don't cut weight. Move up to 145 (pounds). But it's part of the sport, things like this are going to happen."
The UFC still managed to find a replacement by signing Joe Soto, who was originally scheduled to meet Anthony Birchak on the undercard. Soto has a professional mark of 15-2 but is a newbie to the Octagon. A pro since 2006, he won a Bellator featherweight tournament three years later but failed to win the belt from then champion Joe Warren.
He will challenge Dillashaw after winning his past six fights. His previous two losses were to UFC veteran Eddin Yagin and Warren. Althoug he is a veteran fighter himself, Soto would have to step it up as he faces the man many consider is the best bantamweight fighter in the world.
UFC 177 is now down to eight bouts, and the absence of Barao further makes the card less stellar compared to previous UFC events.
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