‘My head is spinning right now’… UFC 309 loses former champion as medical issues result in last-minute fight cancelation

The UFC 309 fight week was one of the most hectic in recent memory, with several last-minute changes impacting the card.

Surrounded by controversy, UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones will defend his heavyweight title for the first time tonight at UFC 309 when he takes on Stipe Miocic in the main event.

With the promotion returning to Madison Square Garden, the rest of the card is filled with blockbuster fights between contenders, including several former champions.

Chris Weidman vs Eryk Anders canceled due to medical issues at the last minute

One former champion who would compete on the UFC 309 undercard was former middleweight champion, Chris Weidman.

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Weidman was scheduled to face Eryk Anders during the prelims, but just hours before their fight, the UFC broadcast team announced that due to medical issues on Anders' side, the fight has been canceled.

The extent of Anders' medical problem has not been confirmed, but Chael Sonnen claimed during the UFC Fight Pass broadcast that it is due to something Anders ate.

“A little bit of not-so-great news: Due to a medical issue involving Eryk Anders, his middleweight prelim with Chris Weidman is now unavailable,” Jon Anik informed fans of the UFC Fight Pass Prelims.

“Urgh, that's too bad for Weidman, because you know, Weidman's comeback has been so brutal and so difficult. He has undergone thirty operations to get where he is now and for him the day of the fight to call it off is terrible. ” continued Joe Rogan.

A New York native, Weidman was hoping to earn his first UFC victory in New York after being unsuccessful two previous times.

'The All-American' won his last outing in a controversial victory against Bruno Silva after several eye contacts and was hoping to make it back-to-back wins for the first time since 2015.

Chris Weidman provides an update after the cancellation

With this being Weidman's first fight in New York since 2018, the former champion had many friends and family ready to attend his homecoming fight.

Speaking on his social media after finding out his fight would not go ahead, Weidman emotionally admitted that his “head was spinning” and that he was minutes away from leaving his hotel to head to the arena.

“Hey, what's going on guys, unfortunately I just got a call from Hunter Campbell that my fight with Eryk Anders is over. Apparently Eryk has gotten sick and won't be able to fight,” Weidman started to explain.

“I'm super disappointed, I felt so good for this fight, I was so ready, my head is spinning with this happening, I was about to walk to the arena, just said the prayers with my family. Yeah, it just felt so good and I was so excited to do a show at Madison Square Garden, I'm so gutted,” Weidman continued.

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