On the latest episode of season eight of Contender Series, Quemuel Ottoni withdrew from his fight against Kody Steele less than an hour before it was set to begin, prompting UFC CEO Dana White to comment on the pressures of the sport and confirming that Steele will be compensated and rescheduled for another fight.
Contender Series is not for the faint of heart.
An unprecedented event took place on the latest episode of season eight of Contender Series. On Tuesday, less than an hour before he was set to face Kody Steele in the penultimate fight of the evening, Quemuel Ottoni withdrew from the event.
The UFC broadcast team revealed that while getting his hands wrapped backstage, Ottoni simply decided he no longer wanted to compete. After speaking to UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby, he took off his gloves and exited. UFC CEO Dana White spoke moments after the bout cancellation was revealed.
“That’s what this show is all about,” White said. “Sometimes you don’t have to actually get in the cage to realize, ‘This isn’t for me. I can’t handle the pressure. I don’t want to do this.’ This is what this is all about.”
MMA Fighting reached out to Ottoni for comment but received no response.
Ottoni was supposed to face Kody Steele, a highly-touted prospect and BJJ competitor, in a lightweight contest. White further spoke on what this means for Steele.
“I think he’s part of the problem,” White said. “I think he’s part of why the kid pulled out. He will be paid in full tonight, his show and his win, and we will get him on another episode of Contender Series this weekend.”
Steele is currently undefeated in his MMA career at 6-0. Most recently, he competed this past April for Fury FC, scoring a third-round TKO.