Tony Ferguson gets newcomer, Lineker-McDonald now UFC Sioux Falls main event

For the 2nd time this year, a UFC main event featuring Tony Ferguson has been called off. In April, Ferguson had to pull out of his UFC on FOX 19 showdown with Khabib Nurmagomedov due to a lung problem. Khabib remained on the card against Darrell Horcher, but lost his headlining status. This time around, with Ferguson set to fight Michael Chiesa at UFC Fight Night 91 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Chiesa had to withdraw after suffering a ruptured disc. Much like Khabib back in April, Ferguson won’t be the main event anymore, and he will end up fighting a UFC newcomer.

UFC officials on Tuesday announced that “El Cucuy” (20-3) will take on unbeaten prospect Landon Vannata (8-0). Instead of a five-round affair, it will be a three-round co-main event. Vannata (or “Groovy Lando” as he’s also known) has won 7 fights by stoppage, with 6 of them coming in the opening round. The Jackson-Winkeljohn product is just 24 years old and appeared on the undercard of RFA 32 in November 2015, when he knocked out Chad Curry in just under 90 seconds. He’ll have the task of pulling off a massive upset against the #3 ranked lightweight contender Ferguson, who has won his last 7 fights, including a thrilling d’arce choke win over Edson Barboza at the TUF 22 Finale in December.

With the change of opponent, the UFC has done some reshuffling with this July 13th event. The new headliner is a bantamweight fight between Michael McDonald and John Lineker, which was initially scheduled as the night’s co-main event. Lineker has never been in a UFC main event before, whereas McDonald headlined for the interim bantamweight title against Renan Barao on a UFC on Fuel TV card in February 2013. The night’s main card airs on Fox Sports 1.