Santiago Ponzinibbio out of UFC Chile main event due to injury

UFC Chile is going to need a new main event.

Sources confirmed with MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani that Santiago Ponzinibbio has been forced to withdraw from his headlining bout opposite Kamaru Usman that was scheduled to take place on May 19 at the Movistar Arena in Santiago, Chile, due to a hand injury.

Combate was first to report Ponzinibbio’s withdrawal.

This is a huge blow for the UFC, given that Argentina’s Ponzinibbio (26-3) is a South American star who was on his way to becoming a legitimate threat in the welterweight division on the back of six consecutive wins and he was an ideal candidate to anchor the promotion’s first visit to Chile. Overall, Ponzinibbio is 8-2 inside the Octagon.

Only Usman (12-1) has been hotter at 170 pounds than Ponzinibbio, having won all seven of his bouts in the UFC. This was to be his first UFC main event opportunity and it remains to be seen if officials will be able to find him a suitable opponent.

“They’re working (on finding a replacement),” Usman told Helwani. “But I won’t fight if it’s not a ranked opponent.”