UFC 312 losing flyweight prospect fight

UFC 312 has lost an exciting flyweight contest.

MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck confirmed to sources with knowledge of the change that a scheduled 125-pound bout between Rei Tsuruya (10-0) and Stewart Nicoll (8-1) is out on the February 8 pay-per-view in Sydney after Nicoll was forced to retire due to injury.

The news was first reported by Eurosport.

Tsuruya also acknowledged the news on social media.

It’s unclear if matchmakers are working to keep Tsuruya on the card with a replacement opponent, but former UFC fighter Zhalgas Zhumagulov has volunteered.

Tsuruya has had a nice start to his MMA career after turning pro in 2021. He is currently 10-0, which includes a unanimous decision win over Carlos Hernandez in his octagon debut last June at UFC 303. Prior to that, Tsuruya earned a UFC contract with a first round TKO of Jiniushiyue in a Road to UFC final match.

UFC 312 is headlined by a pair of title fights as middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis takes on Sean Strickland in the main event and Zhang Weili defends her strawweight title against undefeated Tatiana Suarez in the co-main event.