LAS VEGAS – Junyong Park wishes he could’ve fought Brad Tavares in July as originally scheduled, but he’ll have to settle for UFC Fight Night 244 on Saturday.
The first date between Park (17-6 MMA, 7-3 UFC) and Tavares (20-9 MMA, 15-9 UFC) was canceled when, after both men made weight, the doctor investigated a scratch on the South Korean middleweight’s ear that was determined to be a staph infection.
That decision did not make Park very happy.
“So there was a small scar or small scratch on the back of my ear, and the physician said it was staph infection, so the fight got canceled, unfortunately,” Park told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter during Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 244 media day. “It was kind of whack. … I told (Tavares) what happened and I was sorry. We both cut weight, and we were both looking forward to this, and unfortunately, it didn’t happen. Brad was very understanding. Things happen, you know?”
Although Park admits he’s annoyed he has to cut weight for a second time against the same opponent, he is happy he ultimately pleased with the situation, and intends to get the win in the co-main event clash, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas (ESPN+).
“I’m a company man and I’ll fight whoever the UFC says,” Park said. “When I got the contract and it said Brad Tavares again, it was just another day at the job. … Nothing really changed for the game plan. It’s the same opponent. I’m the same guy. The only thing that’s changed is we are going to cut weight twice for this fight.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 244.
