UFC first trip to Chile now without Main Event and Co Main Event

It now appears as if the UFC is without the Co-Main Event and the Main Event fights for UFC Chile.  While the promotion will be heading to the country for the first time, they are going to have to look for a replacement for Santiago Ponzinibbio who was suppose to be the main event against Kamaru Usman as Ariel Helwani reported over the weekend.

This news was on the heals that the Shogun Vs. Volkan Oezdemir was canceled once Volkan Oezdemir was informed he would not be able to travel internationally due to a stemming legal matter.  It appears those matters will only delay his plans a few weeks as the bout against Mauricio Rua has been announced as a rescheduling for UFC Hamburg.

Latin American loves the UFC, and Chile is a good market for the promotion to grow in.  Kamaru has stated he will only fight if it can be against a ranked opponent.  Right now the immediate option appears to be Cowboy Oliveira however those plans are yet to be finalized and negotiations appear on going.

Santiago Ponzinibbio is out of the 5/19 Chile main event vs. Kamaru Usman, sources confirm. No replacement finalized yet.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 22, 2018