UFC 312 loses flyweight prospect bout
UFC 312 has lost an intriguing flyweight contest.
MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck confirmed with sources with knowledge of the change that a scheduled 125-pound bout between Rei Tsuruya (10-0) and Stewart Nicoll (8-1) is off the Feb. 8 pay-per-view in Sydney after Nicoll was forced to withdraw due to injury.
The news was first reported by Eurosport.
Tsuruya also acknowledged the news on social media.
相手の怪我で試合なくなりました。
— 鶴屋怜 / Rei Tsuruya (@ufc_rei) January 14, 2025
僕はいつでも用意はできてます。 https://t.co/HZ0dkCbcE3
It’s unclear if matchmakers are working to keep Tsuruya on the card with a replacement opponent, but former UFC fighter Zhalgas Zhumagulov has volunteered his services.
@Mickmaynard2 I'm ready to come on as a substitute https://t.co/y6GTq3KUHo
— Zhalgas Zhumagulov (@ZhakoZhumagulov) January 14, 2025
Tsuruya has had a fine start to his MMA career after turning pro in 2021. He is currently 10-0, which includes a unanimous decision win over Carlos Hernandez in his octagon debut this past June at UFC 303. Prior to that, Tsuruya earned a UFC contract with a first-round TKO of Jiniushiyue in a Road to UFC finale bout.
UFC 312 is headlined by a pair of title bouts as middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis meets Sean Strickland in a main event grudge match, and Zhang Weili defends her strawweight title against the undefeated Tatiana Suarez in the co-main event.