UFC 282 fight week is underway and the card has lost a former champion just days out from the event.
Former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler has withdrawn from his scheduled Saturday bout vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio due to an undisclosed injury. The promotion is seeking a replacement, though no one has yet been named publicly.
A person with knowledge of the change informed MMA Junkie of it Monday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. UFC broadcast partner ESPN first reported Lawler’s withdrawal.
Lawler, 40, has only competed once in 2022 – a TKO loss to Bryan Barberena in July. Ponzinibbio is seeking his first win in 2022 if he remains on the card. He competed in May and lost a split decision to Michel Pereira.
With the change, the UFC 282 lineup now includes:
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
- Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev – for vacant light heavyweight title
- Jared Gordon vs. Paddy Pimblett
- Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. TBA
- Dricus Du Plessis vs. Darren Till
- Bryce Mitchell vs. Ilia Topuria
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN2/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)
- Chris Daukaus vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
- Jay Perrin vs. Raul Rosas Jr.
- Dalcha Lungiambula vs. Edmen Shahbazyan
- Joaquin Buckley vs. Chris Curtis
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 5:30 p.m. ET)
- Alexander Hernandez vs. Billy Quarantillo
- Ovince Saint Preux vs. Antonio Trocoli
- TJ Brown vs. Erik Silva
- Daniel da Silva vs. Vinicius Salvador
- Steven Koslow vs. Cameron Saaiman
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 282.
