Filed under: Featured Videos , News , UFC , Videos LOS ANGELES – Josh Barnett was speaking to the media at a Monday luncheon ahead of his UFC on FOX 18 matchup with Ben Rothwell when news broke that Fabricio Werdum had pulled out of the UFC 196 main event . Heavyweight champion Werdum (20-5-1 MMA, 8-2 UFC) was originally scheduled to rematch former champion Cain Velasquez (13-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) in the headliner, but Stipe Miocic (14-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) stepped in as a late-replacement challenger . Werdum announced that injuries to his foot and back were enough for him to step out of the headliner slot though he did say he’d have gone ahead with the bout if Velasquez hadn’t also withdrawn. When informed of the developing situation during the Q&A session, Barnett (34-7 MMA, 6-2 UFC) initially held back from taking shots at the champion.
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Josh Barnett doesn’t blame Werdum for UFC 196 withdrawal, but not buying the excuse – MMA Junkie