Shortly after the promotion scrambled to find him a replacement opponent, an injury has forced Kelvin Gastelum to withdraw from UFC 273.
UFC officials recently announced Gastelum’s exit, but the nature of his injury was not disclosed. Du Plessis will not remain on the card.
“I wish it was an April Fool’s joke,” Gastelum said in a video on Twitter. “I wish this didn’t happen, but it did, and unfortunately, I have to withdraw from the fight. I was advised not to disclose the injury, but just know, I am compromised, and I can’t and won’t be heading into the fight compromised the way that I am.