Bryce Mitchell is unable to compete in UFC 288 due to an undisclosed injury, and Movsar Evolev will fight Diego Lopes instead.
Bryce Mitchell’s comeback to UFC will have to wait. The fighter has been pulled out of his upcoming fight due to an undisclosed injury. According to ESPN’s Carlos Legaspi, Mitchell’s slot will now be filled by Movsar Evolev, who will be fighting Diego Lopes. It is not yet clear what the nature of Mitchell’s injury is. The fighter has not commented on the fight cancellation as of press time.
Mitchell’s latest fight in the UFC was a loss to Ilia Topuria in 2022. Since then, he has not been in the octagon at all this year. A day before the fight was cancelled, fans noticed appearances of what seemed to be purple dye on Mitchell’s arm and shoulder in official UFC YouTube videos. Additionally, his injury may have already been evident in the Embedded episode of the fight.
Considering that Mitchell has been inactive since 2022, his removal from the fight is indeed an unfortunate setback for his comeback to the UFC. While the fighter’s injury remains unknown, the development is something that Mitchell’s camp will surely have to address as soon as possible. His fans will have to wait even longer to see him make his much-awaited UFC return.
The removal of Mitchell from the UFC 288 bout comes as a surprise to his fans and watchers of the sport. Nevertheless, the vacant slot is a welcome opportunity for other fighters to make their mark in the organization. While fans of Mitchell are undoubtedly disappointed with the news, they will look forward to his future fights as he recovers from his injury.