UFC bantamweight Louis Smolka was scheduled to fight Sean O’Malley this Saturday on the undercard for McGregor vs Poirier 3. The two were supposed to kick off the main card, but Smolka cancelled, and now O’Malley will fight newcomer Kris Moutinho.
Smolka took to Instagram to explain his position: (link: https://www.instagram.com/p/CQw7e9WLXFP/)
Why Smolka Pulled out of O’Malley fight at UFC 264
“I was really excited for this fight. Being from Hawai’i, I have that jus scrap mentality so if it were solely up to me, I’d still fight.
But, I have an infection so unfortunately I’ve been deemed medically unfit. It sucks, but we have to be responsible about my health and the health of my training partners and opponent.
I understand that Sean is set to stay on the card so I wish him the best. I’m sure we will see each other down the line.
This is a bummer, but it’s the reality of fight camps and continuous training. We are optimistic that we can get a new date set for you all when my infection clears.
Thank you to my family, the UFC, my managers, nutritionist, coaches, team, and the fans for the help and support. I appreciate you all very much.
We are known for turning setbacks into comebacks, so that’s the plan.” Supposedly, Smolka picked up a staph infection which rendered him unable to compete.
Staph is a common infection in combat sports, and a single athlete getting a staph infection can tear through gyms and fight teams in weeks. While many staph infections are mild, serious infections in individuals with compromised immune systems, such as fighters going through weight cuts, are a far more dangerous matter.
If the infection reaches the internal organs, the infected person will face serious hospital time, damage to their organs, and potentially even death. While Smolka is clearly disappointed to miss the bout, it’s the responsible thing to do.
Smolka has faced yo-yoing performances since his return to the UFC, failing to win consecutive fights since November 2018. A fight on the McGregor card would have been a significant boon for the bantamweight veteran, particularly against an up-and-coming youngster getting as much attention as O’Malley.
Smolka and O’Malley are both known for highlight reel-worthy finishes, so fans will be as disappointed as the fighters themselves not to see the bout go ahead.
Are you looking forward to Smolka’s return to the UFC? Will Sean O’Malley’s rise through the bantamweight ranks continue? Let us know in the comments.
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