Rafael Dos Anjos out of UFC 196
Rafael Dos Anjos dropped out of the UFC 196 card due to injury, a broken foot during training. As is customary in the UFC, a replacement is sought for the absent fighter, especially when it is a main event fight, so as not to leave the card decapitated.
Once again, Conor McGregor is left without an opponent. He misses the opportunity to win the title on the original date and with two weeks until the fight. Just like when he fought Aldo, Chad Mendes jumped in as a replacement for the Brazilian.
Frankie Edgar is injured and cannot take the fight with McGregor
Before the fight was signed with Dos Anjos, there was a long line of opponents that were eager to fight Conor and shut him up. Frankie Edgar wants to be the challenger for the featherweight title. After his defeat, José Aldo said categorically that he would not take any other fight if it was not the rematch for the championship he lost against the Irishman.
To welcome McGregor to the lightweight division, Charles Oliveira and Nate Diaz both expressed their willingness to face him. Rafael himself said he would fight in any country in order to make the battle happen.
Aldo will not fight Conor because he is not in good shape
But now, in order to find an opponent and not remove Conor from the main event, many of those who claimed they would beat or retire McGregor have refused to accept the fight.
Frankie Edgar is not available because he is currently recovering from an injury.
José Aldo is not in the required form to face Conor in his best condition.
“Let him get down on his knees and beg me”: Nate Diaz
Nate Diaz tweeted that he wants Conor to beg him to accept the fight.
Ali Abdel Aziz, trainer of Khabib Nurmagomedov, commented that he proposed his fighter, but UFC did not accept to put him on the card.
And even though "Cowboy" Cerrone says he has no problems with the weight cut to fight McGregor, Dana White has not made a decision, but he explodes against those who said they would not fight Conor.
“Ali talks rubbish. What does he want us to do? Khabib hasn't fought in two years, are we supposed to put him in the fight to save the card? Besides, Khabib already has a fight and we left it up to FOX. It's incredible, to be honest, all those managers saying they want the fight with Conor. You hear those guys screaming 'Conor, Conor, Conor', but when it comes time to accept the fight, they back out and it turns out they are injured”, White concluded.