The upcoming UFC Rio card is set to be headlined by a lightweight bout between Charles Oliveira and Mateusz Gamrot. Among the most talked-about matchups on the undercard was a heavyweight clash between Mohammad Usman and Valter Walker, the brothers of Kamaru Usman and Johnny Walker. However, the fight has been canceled following a last-minute injury that forced Usman out just hours before the event.
According to report, the Nigerian fighter Mohammad Usman was withdrawn from the card due to a medical issue. The exact nature of the injury has not yet been disclosed, and reports indicate that the UFC has been actively searching for a replacement to keep Walker on the event lineup.
The cancellation comes at a frustrating time for Usman, whose momentum had been slowly rebuilding after a mixed run in the promotion. Earlier this year, a unanimous decision win over Hamdy Abdelwahab at UFC Baku ended a rough patch that saw him drop consecutive decisions to Thomas Petersen and Mick Parkin. The victory had marked his first UFC win in nearly two years.
Usman’s withdrawal has left Walker without an opponent for what was supposed to be his fourth straight octagon appearance.. His last outing came in July, where he submitted Kennedy Nzechukwu in just 54 seconds.
As of now, the UFC has not confirmed whether a short-notice replacement will be found for Walker or if the fight will be rebooked at a later date. A potential rescheduling for Mohammad Usman vs. Valter Walker could take place at a future event, possibly UFC 321, which will be headlined by Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane later this month.
The late withdrawal has drawn disappointment from fans who had anticipated a compelling showdown between two rising heavyweights with strong MMA legacies behind their surnames. Still, all eyes will remain on Mohammad Usman as updates on his condition and return timeline emerge in the coming weeks.
