UFC champion Rafael dos Anjos pulls out of fight with Conor McGregor in Las Vegas
By James Dielhenn
Last Updated: 23/02/16 10:42pm
UFC champion Rafael dos Anjos pulls out of his fight against Conor McGregor after suffering a broken foot.
The Brazilian was due to face McGregor at UFC 196 on March 5 in Las Vegas, but Dos Anjos' manager Ali Abdelaziz has confirmed his withdrawal after he sustained the injury in sparring.
Speaking to Yahoo Sports Abdelaziz said: "He threw a kick and the guy he was sparring with checked the kick.
"It hurt a little, but he continued to spar. After that, it began swelling badly and I called the UFC. They sent him to a doctor who said it's broken."
UFC president Dana White is searching for a replacement opponent, with the fight remaining at 155lbs, although he is yet to decide whether an interim championship will be on the line.
When we went through the options, he said he'd fight any of them.
Dana White
White admitted that McGregor reacted angrily when he received news of Dos Andjos' withdrawal, but has vowed to face any available opponents.
"When we went through the options, he said he'd fight any of them," White told Yahoo Sports.
"He said, 'I'll fight anyone.'"
The Irishman, already the featherweight champion, was aiming to create history by holding two belts simultaneously as he challenged for Dos Anjos' lightweight prize.
The withdrawal is the second time in seven months that a world champion has withdrawn from defending their gold against McGregor at short-notice.
Last July, then-featherweight king Jose Aldo dropped out injured but McGregor defeated his replacement Chad Mendes by knockout. McGregor then beat Aldo in 13 seconds in their rearranged title fight in December.
The women's bantamweight fight between Holly Holm and Miesha Tate will go ahead as the co-main event.
