Andrew Sanchez was forced out of his UFC on ESPN+ 16 fight vs. Marvin Vettori on Saturday in Vancouver, and he’s revealed why.
Sanchez posted a video on Instagram detailing an eye infection and shared that doctors weren’t able to clear him. His fight with Vettori has been rescheduled for UFC on ESPN+ 19 in Tampa on Oct. 12.
“I’m very sad to announce that my fight this weekend has been cancelled,” Sanchez said Thursday. “I got a nasty eye infection last Wednesday. I’ve done everything I can to fix this problem. I’ve been to three doctors. Turns out it’s a virus, and it can’t be fixed by prescription medication, and I just have to let it run it’s course, and it’s just one of those things that can’t be helped.
“I was cutting weight, I was making weight, I was doing everything. I was prepared to fight, but it’s just not going to happen with an eye like this. It’s dangerous, and I want to apologize to the UFC, my friends, my family, my fans, and my opponent. But the good news is we have been rescheduled four weeks from now, October 12th in Tampa Bay, Florida, so we’re going to run it back.”
Upon hearing the news of the fight cancellation, Vettori vented his frustration in a Wednesday interview with MMA Junkie, accusing Sanchez of being scared.
“The guy is scared, man,” Vettori said. “He is not a tough guy. I mean, he’s a giant pussy. He bailed on me a year ago, maybe a year ago, or a year-and-a-half ago. He was coming from two losses, he didn’t want to risk to get cut or something like that. And then now, he’s coming off two wins, and then he got a little confident and maybe like, ‘Oh, I can take this risk, but he doesn’t want to fight me as much as I want to crush his face. I don’t want him to mess with my plans and things like that.”
Good news for Vettor is that it’s already rebooked.
