Gunnar Nelson`s upcoming fight booking has unfortunately been canceled once again.
The 18-year veteran, who is no stranger to last-minute changes, announced Thursday on Instagram that he has been forced to withdraw from his scheduled bout against Neil Magny at UFC 318. He cited a hamstring injury as the reason for his withdrawal, confirming an initial report.
Nelson elaborated on the specifics of the injury, describing it as a two-part issue. He mentioned a Grade 2b muscle tear in the hamstring, which he initially thought might be manageable. However, the more significant problem is a Grade 4c full thickness tear in the tendon located within the muscle. This more serious injury severely limits his capabilities, making him “absolutely useless” for wrestling, grappling, or kicking.
He estimates that it will take at least eight more weeks before he can comfortably resume grappling training at full intensity.
The 36-year-old Nelson is coming off a decision loss to Kevin Holland in March. That fight was only his third appearance in the Octagon since 2022. The loss ended a two-fight winning streak for “Gunni,” bringing his official UFC record to 10 wins and 6 losses.
It is currently uncertain whether the UFC will find a replacement opponent for Neil Magny for the July 19th card or if the fight against Nelson will be rescheduled for a later date. Nelson expressed hope that he can compete again before the end of 2025.
Offering some positive news, Nelson stated he will not require surgery for the injury. He expressed optimism about his recovery timeline, hoping to get the issue sorted within a few months and aims to be ready to compete again by the end of the year.
UFC 318 is set to take place on July 19th at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The event is headlined by a “BMF” title trilogy showdown between Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier, which Poirier has indicated will be the final fight of his professional career.
