10 Biggest Fight Cancellations Which Crippled UFC

By Sam Heard /

9. Rashad Evans Vs. Daniel Cormier €“ UFC 170

Daniel Cormier was set to make his light heavyweight debut against Rashad Evans in the co-main event of UFC 170. Evans would have been the perfect man to welcome DC to the 205-lb division €“ with his combination of superb striking, wrestling and speed, a win over 205-lb royalty Rashad Evans would prove that the unbeaten ex-heavyweight was a serious title contender in the division. The clash of an ex-UFC champion and a former Olympic wrestler was a huge fight in the otherwise sparse card. However, Rashad sustained a serious knee injury before the fight and was forced to pull out. Cormier was left without an opponent and it looked as if he too would have to be pulled from the event. That was until Patrick Cummins stepped in to take his place. What ensued was drama straight out of the WWE€™s book of tricks. Cummins had previously trained with Cormier and claimed he had once made him cry. Now we know what you€™re thinking, €œwho cares?€. The answer €“ no one. The answer in the heads of Zuffa €“ everyone. This angle was forced into the face of the entire MMA community in an attempt to make people care that Daniel Cormier was about to beat up a man who had served coffee for a living prior to the fight, rather than an ex-champion and TUF winner. This tactic was used to cheaply garner attention for a completely mismatched fight and to try and establish this as a fight card worth $60. Predictably, Cormier knocked the espresso beans out of Cummins in the first round and proved very little about his quality as a light heavyweight.