UFC Fight Night 99 Loses Its Co-Main Event

On November 19, the UFC will return to Belfast, Northern Island with UFC Fight Night 99.

Initially, the card looked like it was going to be a great one. Unfortunately, the injury bug has been chowing down on its lineup over the last few days.

First, it was announced that the evening’s planned main event, a welterweight bout between Gunnar Nelson and Dong Hyun Kim, had been nixed by a Nelson ankle injury. And though the UFC was able to cook up a replacement main event in a middleweight rematch between Gegard Mousasi and Uriah Hall, it appears that the Belfast card is not out of the woods yet.

On Wednesday morning, it was announced that the card had lost its planned co-main event: a lightweight bout pitting James Krause with English veteran Ross Pearson. This bout has fallen through as the result of a “high grade” hamstring tear sustained by Krause.

Regrettably, this is the second time Krause has been forced out of a bout with Pearson this year. The pair were initially expected to meet on at The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale on July 8. The American was forced out of this previously planned bout with an undisclosed injury, and replaced by debuting former Bellator champion, Will Brooks.

On Wednesday morning, Krause took to his official Instagram account to explain the circumstances of his injury, and offer his apologies to Pearson and the fans in Northern Ireland.

It’s with great disappointment and frustration that I make this post announcing that I’m forced to withdraw from my #UFCBelfast bout with Ross Pearson… again. Monday morning during wrestling practice I tore my hamstring for what the doctor says is a “high grade”, substantial tear in 3 different spots to my hamstring. This is 2 camps in a row, and against Ross that I’ve had to withdraw from so my greatest apologies to him. This is not my norm and I pride myself on fighting any opposition that’s been offered to me. That being said during these training camps I’ve made a lot of progress and am very excited to show my improvements whoever and whenever that time comes. Once again, my deepest apologies to @rosstherealdeal and the @ufc. I’ll be back soon enough.

A photo posted by James Krause (@thejameskrause) on Oct 26, 2016 at 7:12am PDT

“It’s with great disappointment and frustration that I make this post announcing that I’m forced to withdraw from my #UFCBelfast bout with Ross Pearson… again,” Krause’s post explains. “Monday morning during wrestling practice I tore my hamstring for what the doctor says is a “high grade”, substantial tear in 3 different spots to my hamstring. This is 2 camps in a row, and against Ross that I’ve had to withdraw from so my greatest apologies to him. This is not my norm and I pride myself on fighting any opposition that’s been offered to me. That being said during these training camps I’ve made a lot of progress and am very excited to show my improvements whoever and whenever that time comes.”

In addition to its new Mousasi vs. Hall main event, UFC Fight Night 99’s most notable attractions are a flyweight scrap between Ian McCall and Neil Seery, a featherweight battle between Artem Lobov and Teruto Ishihara, and a heavyweight showdown between Timothy Johnson and former Bellator champ Alexander Volkov.

Are you still excited for the card? Sound off, PENN Nation!