The UFC played shuffleboard with the card for Saturday’s event.
After an interesting week and missed weigh-ins, the new main event for UFC 279 will be Nate Diaz vs. Tony Ferguson.
Diaz was scheduled to meet Khamzat Chimaev, but the prospect missed weight, coming in at 178.5 pounds. He will now face Kevin Holland in the co-main event, as Holland was scheduled for a catchweight.
Both Diaz vs. Ferguson and Chimaev vs. Holland will be five-round fights.
Meanwhile, Li Jingliang will square off with Daniel Rodriguez, who was to meet Holland.
“It’s not by coincidence that we stack guys in the same weight on the same card in case something goes wrong. It worked out,” UFC president Dana White said in an interview with ESPN. “Getting these guys to agree to different fights can be a little tough sometimes. We got it all done. We’re locked in.
“Nate Diaz and Tony, the fans have wanted to see this one forever. It’s going to happen now before Nate leaves the UFC. It couldn’t have played out any better.”
