Edson Barboza Withdraws from UFC Seattle Due to Injury

The upcoming UFC Seattle event has encountered another setback as Edson Barboza has been forced to withdraw from his scheduled bout against Steve Garcia on February 22nd. Multiple sources have confirmed to MMA news outlets that Barboza’s withdrawal is due to an undisclosed injury.

This is the latest in a series of changes to the UFC Seattle card. Recently, former bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz announced his retirement from competition, leaving his opponent Rob Font without a match. Additionally, the heavyweight fight between Curtis Blaydes and Rizvan Kuniev, originally planned for the main card, is expected to be moved to the UFC 313 pay-per-view event on March 8th.

It remains unclear whether Garcia will remain on the UFC Seattle card with a new opponent. This development is particularly disappointing for Garcia, who was looking to potentially break into the top 15 of the featherweight rankings after an impressive streak of five consecutive wins, all ending in first or second-round knockouts.

The main event for UFC Seattle is still set to feature former two-division champion Henry Cejudo facing off against Song Yadong in a highly anticipated bantamweight matchup. As of now, the UFC has not announced the final lineup or bout order for the event.

These recent changes highlight the dynamic nature of MMA event planning and the impact that injuries and retirements can have on fight cards. Fans and fighters alike will be eagerly awaiting further updates on the UFC Seattle event as it continues to evolve.