DWCS fight canceled hours prior to event after UFC hopeful falls ill - MMA Junkie
An illness has forced a bout off Tuesday's Dana White's Contender Series 94 event.
Ilias Bulaid has fallen ill. As a result, his bout vs. Erick Visconde has been rescheduled to the season finale on Oct. 13, the promotion announced just hours before Tuesday's episode.
A lengthy explanation was posted on Bulaid's Instagram account shortly after news of the postponement surfaced. Written in the third person, the statement explains that Bulaid (9-0) came down with an infection over the past few days, made worsened by his weight cut.
"It is with great disappointment that we have to announce that Ilias will not be able to compete tonight. A few days before the weigh-in, he began experiencing stomach and abdominal issues, as did some of his coaches and trainers. From that moment on, we remained in close contact with the UFC Medical Team and had the situation carefully assessed. The weight cut went entirely according to plan. Ilias only had to lose 2.5 kg and made weight in a controlled manner. The UFC Medical Team confirmed that his condition was not a result of the weight cut.
"Unfortunately, the infection continued to worsen, partly due to his weakened immune system. As a result, we have spent more time in the hospital than at the hotel over the past few days. Following a medical assessment, the UFC doctor determined that it would not be safe for Ilias to fight.
"This is, of course, a huge disappointment for Ilias and the entire team. We did everything within our power, but ultimately, this situation was beyond our control. Our focus is now on his recovery. Thank you to everyone for your support and understanding."
Bulaid is a former GLORY Kickboxing standout who pivoted to MMA in 2019, initially under the Bellator banner. He won Levels Fight League gold in April, leading to his DWCS opportunity.
Visconde (17-3) is a featherweight standout who competed professionally for almost a decade before his first official UFC glance. He is the current LFA featherweight champion.
