UFC Belfast benefits greatly from cancelled Manila event as exciting flyweight bout finds new home

BJ Penn getting injured worked out surprisingly well for UFC Belfast.

UFC Manila was set to host the highly-anticipated return of BJ Penn as the former welterweight and lightweight champion was set to take on number-four ranked featherweight Ricardo Lamas. Unfortunately for 'the Prodigy',and the people of the Philippines, he suffered a rib injury in training and was forced to withdraw. Since he was the only real draw on the card, the UFC decided to scrap it entirely. The promotion promised to compensate every fighter on the card and have them rescheduled for later dates, and one of the better match-ups originally booked for the event will now take place in Belfast. A flyweight bout between top contenders Kyoji Horiguchi and Ali Bagautinov has been moved to the UFC Belfast card on November 19. Horiguchi, the number four-ranked 125 lber, enters into this fight off the back of a unanimous decision win over Ireland's Neil Seery in May. The 25-year-old is riding a two-fight win-streak since losing his title shot against Demetrious Johnson at UFC 186. Eight-ranked flyweight Bagautinov recently returned to the winning column by beating Geane Herrera over three rounds at UFC Fight Night 89. Prior to that, he was on a two-fight losing streak that included loses to Joseph Benavides and Mighty Mouse. Dong Hyun Kim vs. Gunnar Nelson Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Ali Bagautinov Amanda Cooper vs. Anna Elmose Ian McCall vs. Neil Seery James Krause vs. Ross Pearson Zak Cummings vs. Alexander Yakovlev Kevin Lee vs. Magomed Mustafaev Mark Godbeer vs. Justin Ledet Timothy Johnson vs. Alexander Volkov Magnus Cedenblad vs. Jack Marsham Teruto Ishihara vs. Artem Lobov Marion Reneau vs. Milana Dudieva Check out the latest episode of The GAA Hour, where we talk players statements, club football's fixture glut and catch up with Clare's new hurling manager(s). https://soundcloud.com/sportsjoe-gaa-hour/the-player-statement-era-and-the-plight-of-the-lowly-clubman