Well, folks, it looks like the UFC 287 card just got a little lighter, as heavyweight fighters Karl Williams and Chase Sherman have been forced to pump the brakes on their highly anticipated bout. While we’re sure this news is as much of a bummer for you as it is for us, don’t fret too much because we’ve still got a stacked lineup coming your way!

The announcement of Sherman’s withdrawal from the contest was made during the early preliminary broadcast on Saturday, as the result of a mysterious medical issue. Bummer, right? But hey, at least we’ve got a strawweight bout between Cynthia Calvillo and Lupita Godinez stepping up to the plate as the new opening act for the second set of prelims!

We know what you’re thinking: what’s the deal with Williams and Sherman’s fight? Well, so far, there’s no word on whether or not it’ll be rescheduled for another card. So for now, we’ll all just have to sit tight and cross our fingers!

Just to refresh your memory, Williams (8-1) swooped in as a last-minute replacement for Chris Barnett, earning himself a spot on the big stage after his unanimous decision victory over Lukasz Brzeski back in March. Meanwhile, Sherman (16-11) was hoping to start his 2023 campaign on a high note, especially after a less-than-stellar 1-3 run last year.

But don’t worry, fight fans, there’s still plenty of action to look forward to at UFC 287! The main event features Alex Pereira defending his middleweight title against former champ Israel Adesanya in a high-stakes rematch for the ages. Plus, with names like Gilbert Burns, Jorge Masvidal, and Kevin Holland filling out the card, we’re in for a wild night of jaw-dropping action.

So, while it’s a bummer we won’t get to see Williams and Sherman throw down this time around, rest assured that UFC 287 is still chock full of explosive matchups to satisfy your appetite for MMA mayhem. Now, let’s gear up for an epic night and see which fighters will rise to the occasion!