UFC Vegas 100 card suffers major success, former UFC champion drops out

UFC CEO Dana White and his staff are working hard this week. As we approach the end of 2024, injuries continue to strike the UFC.

Hours after an injury forced Tracy Cortez off the UFC Tampa card on December 14, it was announced that another well-known fighter is withdrawing from an upcoming event.

Former UFC men's bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt has reportedly pulled out of his scheduled fight with Miles John at the UFC Apex on Saturday, November 9, in Las Vegas. This fight was scheduled to be the main event of the UFC's historic 100th show at the venue.

According to Cole Shelton of BJPenn.com, Garbrandt withdrew for “unknown reasons.” According to Shelton, Johns is trying to stay on the card, but it would be extremely short notice if he gets a replacement opponent – we're talking 72 hours.

Garbrandt has tried to right the ship to climb the bantamweight rankings once again, but he has continually encountered obstacles and defeats.

The fight with Johns was originally scheduled for October 12, but the fight was canceled. In Garbrandt's last fight, he was defeated by Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 300 in April. This loss ended Garbrandt's two-fight winning streak, as he had earned a knockout victory over Brian Kelleher and a unanimous decision victory over Trevin Jones in 2023.

These victories were preceded by consecutive defeats, including a knockout loss in Garbrandt's failed attempt to move down to flyweight. Kai Kara France defeated him in the first round.

Since Garbrandt defeated Dominick Cruz to win the 135-pound championship in December 2016, the former has compiled a record of 3-6. At 33, Garbrandt is not old yet, but the injuries, losses and damage are piling up.

Johns goes in the opposite direction. The 30-year-old has a 7-2 record in the UFC, including his win over Richie Santiago in 2019 on the Dana White Contender Series.

Johns was undefeated in his last four fights and the matchup with Garbrandt represented the Fortis MMA product's best chance against a familiar opponent.

Even if the UFC finds someone to replace Garbrandt, it probably won't be that big of a name. Here's a look at the entire UFC Vegas 100 card and information on how to watch. I left Johns in as the promotion apparently hasn't given up hope that they can find a worthy replacement for Garbrandt.

Where to see: ESPN+

• Main event: Neil Magny vs. Carlos Prates
• ???? against Miles Johns
• Ricky Turcios vs. Benardo Sopaj
• Gerald Meerschaert against Reinier de Ridder
• Luana Pinheiro vs Gillian Robertson
• Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Dusko Todorovic

Preliminary round games:

• Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Denise Gomes
• Gaston Bolaños vs. Cortavious Romious
• Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos vs. Zach Scroggins
• Matthew Semelsberger vs. Charles Radtke
• Cody Stamann vs. Da'Mon Blackshear
• Tresean Gore vs. Antonio Trocoli
• Melissa Mullins vs. Klaudia Sygula

Even if the UFC finds a replacement, a likely replacement for the co-main event could be Gerald Meerschaert vs. Reinier de Ridder. The latter makes his promotional debut after a successful career at ONE Championship, where he won the light heavyweight championship.

He will compete as a middleweight in the UFC and Meerschaert will welcome him. Stay tuned for fight week coverage leading up to Saturday's event.