The UFC finally worked it out.
UFC Dublin took a major hit when Stipe Miocic withdrew from his heavyweight match-up with Ben Rothwell and the October 24th event lost the bout that many argued should have been the main event of the promotion’s return to the 3Arena.
The UFC subsequently made the decision to move Norman Parke up the card to co-main event status for his lightweight fight with Reza Madadi.
Your new co-main for #UFCDublin: @norman_parke vs. @RezaMaddog! Just 9 days to go!! pic.twitter.com/FWfqK8BjRO
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) October 15, 2015
But somebody at UFC HQ obviously had a word in Dana White’s ear that the Dublin crowd might appreciate seeing one of their hometown fighters get the shout to warm the octagon ahead of the headliner.
Mere hours after Parke v Madadi was announced as co-main event, the UFC had a change of heart and pushed Paddy Holohan up to the penultimate fight of the promotion’s third trip to the capital.
Holohan vs Smolka is now the co-main event in Dublin! Here’s the Paddy vs Sampo fight from the last Dublin show http://t.co/jDaezqzZWa
— danawhite (@danawhite) October 16, 2015
Holohan v Smolka will now act as co-main event next weekend and it will be the first time that The Hooligan has featured on a UFC main card as he’s fought exclusively on the prelims of events since his promotional debut last summer.
It’s safe to say that it went down well with fans.
@danawhite Great decision. Delighted for @PaddyHolohanMMA
— Des Barry (@A_Great_Human) October 16, 2015
@danawhite good man Dana. Better late than never. ; ) — Jeff Dolan (@jeffdolan_) October 16, 2015
@danawhite @PaddyHolohanMMA Woohooo rightly so
— Tammy kenny (@mzlittlemiss) October 16, 2015
@danawhite I wish Paddy was the main. — Stevie Allen (@Swahjer) October 16, 2015
@ufc @PaddyHolohanMMA @LASTSAMURAIUFC Could be the MAIN event! Lets go Paddy!
— Megalodon (@Megaladonj) October 16, 2015
@ufc Happy for Paddy. Kid always brings it. A great card nonetheless. — Marco Solis Martinez (@Jedi_Marcos) October 16, 2015
I like it a lot https://t.co/6jW04Zq2FZ
— SBG Ireland HQ (@SBG_Ireland) October 16, 2015
