Lauzon out of UFC 180 fight, Rousey-Zingano to co-main 182

Published on Wednesday, 10/22/14, at 8:35 p.m. Eastern. 

Would the UFC consider matching Diego Sanchez up against 'The Notorious?'

Would the UFC consider matching Diego Sanchez up against ‘The Notorious?’

The Ultimate Fighting Championship took more bad news today when we learned that Joe Lauzon is out of his UFC 180 fight against Diego Sanchez. Lauzon and Sanchez promised to bring fireworks to the main card in the Mexico City.

Even though the bout didn’t have any title implications, both fighters are considered two of the most exciting in UFC history.

This news comes just 24 hours after heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez had to pull out of the main event due to a knee injury. Velasquez was poised to take on Fabricio Werdum, who will now face 40-year-old Mark Hunt for the interim belt.

Hunt took the fight on just 3.5 weeks of notice despite the fact that he’ll need to shed 37 pounds in that short period of time.

Sanchez and 145-pound contender Conor McGregor have exchanged words recently, and ‘The Notorious’ has suggested that he’s eventually going to move up to the 155-pound loop. Would the promotion consider moving McGregor into Lauzon’s spot?

Cat Zingano (R) gets the next crack at Ronda Rousey's belt on Jan. 3 at UFC 182 in Vegas.

Cat Zingano (R) gets the next crack at Ronda Rousey’s belt on Jan. 3 at UFC 182 in Vegas.

Dana White and Co. might have plans for McGregor to participate in a main or co-main event early in 2015. If McGregor were to get out of a fight with Sanchez unscathed, that could still happen.

Does the UFC want to give McGregor a title shot against the winner of Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes at UFC 179? Or is that slot going to go to the winner of Frankie Edgar vs. Cub Swanson?

In other UFC news, Ronda Rousey will defend her women’s belt against Cat Zingano in the co-main event at UFC 182 on Jan. 3. Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier will battle for the light-heavyweight strap in the main event of that card in Las Vegas.

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