PHOENIX – For the second week in a row, the UFC has lost a fight on the same day of a show. At least this time it’s not the main event.
A UFC on ESPN 1 preliminary bout between Jessica Penne and Jodie Esquibel has been canceled just hours before they were set to enter the octagon tonight, a UFC official confirmed to MMAjunkie. ESPN.com was first to report the news.
The official told MMAjunkie that it was a doctor’s decision to remove Penne from the bout because of an undisclosed injury. Penne missed the strawweight limit by three pounds during official weigh-ins on Friday.
UFC on ESPN 1, which takes place at Talking Stick Resort Arena, will proceed with 12 bouts and kick off at 6 p.m. ET with early prelims on ESPN+.
This marks the second consecutive UFC event that has lost a bout on the same day. Last week at UFC 234, middleweight champion Robert Whittaker pulled out of his scheduled title fight with Kelvin Gastelum after he was hospitalized and later underwent emergency surgery on a collapsed bowel and internal hernia.
UPDATE: Penne has revealed that she suffered an ankle injury this morning and shared a photo accompanied by a message on Instagram.
I don’t have a lot of words to describe my emotions at the moment. I want to apologize to my opponent @jodieesquibel and her camp for this fight not happening today. I’m truly very sorry Jodie. I went to do a small shakeout this morning and was working some basic drills when I rolled my ankle with the full weigh of my body and my training partners. I immediately iced it and was hoping that it wouldn’t be that bad but it became obvious very quickly that this was a bad sprain. The ufc medical team along with Sean Shelby came to my room and the decision was made along with my team that I couldn’t fight. I have a grade 2 sprain and will know more after x-rays. I’m heart broken and I know Jodie must be as well. Hopefully Jodie and I can be rebooked ASAP. Thank you to everyone for the support, it means more than you know.
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