Manuel Gaxhja injured, out of Bellator 196 co-main event vs. Adam Borics

The fast-rising Hungarian fighter was supposed to fight Manuel Gaxhja in the featherweight co-main event of Bellator 196 at BOK Hall in Budapest, but officials confirmed with MMA Fighting that Gaxhja has been forced to withdraw due to an undisclosed injury.

MMAjunkie was first to report the withdrawal.

Gaxhja was actually Borics’s second scheduled opponent for Bellator 196. Originally, Borics was supposed to fight undefeated Irishman James Gallagher in the main event, but he was moved down to the co-main after Gallagher suffered an injury and was replaced by Gaxhja.

A lightweight bout between Benson Henderson and Roger Huerta was later booked as the new headliner.

Borics was victorious in his Bellator debut last April, submitting Anthony Taylor by first-round rear-naked choke to improve his pro record to 6-0.

Officials are currently seeking a new opponent for Borics.