.png)
In a disappointing turn of events, fans' excitement for a thrilling welterweight clash between Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson and Michel Pereira has been dashed. UFC 291 was slated to host this highly anticipated matchup on the main card, but UFC reporter Megan Olivi delivered the unfortunate news before the ceremonial weigh-ins in Salt Lake City.
The culprit behind this disappointment was Pereira's failure to make weight during the official weigh-ins. The Brazilian fighter tipped the scales at 174 pounds, a troubling three pounds over the welterweight limit, leading to the bout's cancellation.
This is not the first time Pereira has encountered weight issues in his UFC career. Back in September 2019, he missed the mark by a pound at UFC Vancouver, where he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Tristan Connelly.
On the other side, Thompson, a two-time welterweight title challenger, was looking forward to making his 2023 debut. Having secured a victory against Kevin Holland via TKO in December 2022, Thompson was eager to continue his momentum in the octagon.
Addressing the situation on social media, Wonderboy shared his thoughts, drawing comparisons to his experience with another weight-missed bout against Darren Till in 2018. Thompson's post highlighted the disparity in consequences, with Till gaining a controversial majority decision win and later receiving a title shot.
As of now, it remains uncertain whether Thompson and Pereira will get a chance to reschedule their showdown or if they will move on to new opponents. Nevertheless, fans can still expect an action-packed main card, as a heavyweight bout between Derrick Lewis and Marcos Rogerio de Lima has been promoted to fill the void.
While disappointment lingers over the cancellation of Thompson vs. Pereira, the show must go on. UFC 291 promises to deliver plenty of excitement and adrenaline, leaving fight fans eagerly anticipating every moment in the Octagon.