UFC veteran Joanne Wood shocks fans with her withdrawal from UFC 291. Is it retirement or injury? Find out the details and get ready for the epic “BMF” title fight between Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier.
| Joanne Wood withdraws from UFC 291.
| Miranda Maverick to replace Wood at the event.
| Retirement or injury speculation surrounds Wood’s withdrawal.
| Gaethje vs. Poirier headlines UFC 291.
UFC veteran Joanne Wood shocked fans on Thursday with the announcement that she will not be fighting Priscilla Cachoiera at UFC 291. In an Instagram post, Wood expressed her disappointment, stating that the decision was out of her control. This fight could have potentially served as her official retirement bout, but unfortunately, fate had other plans.
Multiple sources, who wished to remain anonymous, have confirmed Wood’s withdrawal to MMA Fighting. They also revealed that verbal agreements are in place for Miranda Maverick to replace Wood at the July 29 pay-per-view event at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
Wood shared her disappointment with her followers, stating, “Gutted to find out that I won’t be fighting on July 29th. It is what it is, and I’m going to try not to dwell on this as it was out of my control. I invested and did everything I could to be prepared for what could have been my last fight. I even went all in on altitude training to ensure I was in top form and injury-free. If only fight camps went on your record (and you got paid for them), I’m pretty sure I’m in the triple digits by now.”
Wood’s most recent appearance in the octagon was at UFC 286, where she secured a split decision victory over Luana Carolina. This win marked a turning point for Wood, who had previously suffered three consecutive losses, including back-to-back rear-naked choke defeats against current champion Alexa Grasso and Taila Santos.
On the other hand, Cachoiera is currently riding a two-fight winning streak. Her most recent victory came against Ariane Lipski at UFC San Diego. Maverick, who is set to replace Wood, last appeared at UFC 289, where she fell short in a decision loss to Jasmine Jasudavicius.
UFC 291 is headlined by a “BMF” title fight between Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier. This highly anticipated lightweight clash is the second meeting between the two fighters, following their thrilling “Fight of the Year” candidate.
Fight Results
| Fighters | Result |
|---|---|
| Joanne Wood vs. Priscilla Cachoiera | Withdrawn |
| Miranda Maverick vs. Priscilla Cachoiera | Upcoming |
In conclusion, Joanne Wood’s unexpected withdrawal from UFC 291 has left fans wondering if it signifies her retirement or if there is an underlying injury. Regardless, the event promises an exciting showdown between Gaethje and Poirier that is sure to captivate MMA enthusiasts.
