Two UFC 309 fighters withdraw in week prior to Madison Square Garden event

Two fighters have withdrawn from UFC 309 less than two weeks before the event.

Light heavyweight Azamat Murzakanov and featherweight Lucas Almeida are out of their respective Nov. 16 bouts that were scheduled for Madison Square Garden in New York.

Four people with knowledge of the changes recently informed MMA Junkie of them but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Murzakanov (30-9 MMA, 11-7 UFC) was expected to fight Nikita Krylov (14-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) in a UFC-ranked battle, but withdrew for undisclosed reasons. It is unclear if Krylov will remain on the card.

Almeida (15-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC) is also out for reasons undisclosed. He was scheduled to fight David Onama (12-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC), who will remain on the card against a new opponent to be determined. News of Almeida’s withdrawal was first reported by MMA Fighting.

• Champion Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic – for heavyweight title
• Michael Chandler vs. Charles Oliveira – five-round bout
• Viviane Aruajo vs. Karine Silva
• Paul Craig vs. Bo Nickal
• Eryk Anders vs. Chris Weidman
• Jhonata Diniz vs. Marcin Tybura
• Mauricio Ruffy vs. James Llontop
• Nikita Krylov vs. TBA
• Jonathan Martinez vs. Marcus McGhee
• Damon Jackson vs. Jim Miller
• David Onama vs. TBA
• Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Mickey Gall
• Oban Elliott vs. Bassil Hafez
• Veronica Hardy vs. Eduarda Moura

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.