Middleweight fighter who beat Alex Pereira in MMA withdrew from DWCS fight just minutes before scheduled walkout
11/09/2024 14:08
The first fighter to have ever beaten current UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira in MMA, Quemuel Ottoni was scheduled to fight on Dana White’s Contender Series this past Tuesday but withdrew from his bout abruptly.
31-year-old Brazilian middleweight, Quemuel Ottoni, was scheduled to compete on Dana White’s Contender Series week five this past Tuesday against Kody Steele but caused controversy when he withdrew from the fight two times.
Quemuel Ottoni withdraws from DWCS fight twice in the space of hours
Ottoni last fought in May 2022 and since then has had three PFL bouts canceled due to several different reasons.
Despite having not fought in two years and having had 13 bouts canceled throughout his career, he was given the opportunity to earn a UFC contract in the Contender Series.
The main reason the 31-year-old was afforded the opportunity, is because he holds an MMA win over current UFC light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira and is the only fighter outside of Israel Adesanya to beat him inside the cage.
Just an hour out from his scheduled fight against the undefeated Steele, Ottoni withdrew because he ‘wasn’t feeling it’ according to Steele’s coach, William Tackett. The 29-year-old removed his hand wraps and conceded to the fact he wasn’t going to be fighting.
However, not long after, Ottoni notified the UFC that he wanted to fight and so the fight was back on. Shortly after, the Brazilian once again withdrew from the fight after suffering a panic attack.
Dana White comments on Ottoni abruptly withdrawing from DWCS fight
UFC CEO, Dana White, has shed some light on the issues Ottoni went through and has commented on the situation.
“Sean (Shelby) came busting in the back room and then walked right through and went somewhere, apparently he went to the locker room, he had heard that this kid was pulling out so he went back there and gave him a pep talk and the kid said ‘Yeah’ and got his hands wrapped again,” White explained in the post-fight press conference.
“And then halfway through the second fight, Sean got called again that he was pulling out. This kid flew in from Brazil… That’s what this show is for too, sometimes you don’t have to step into the Octagon to know that this isn’t for me, I can’t take this, whatever his deal was,” White continued.
With it unlikely that Ottoni will get another chance on the Contender Series, at least for now, the UFC boss was extremely complimentary of Steele after he continued to try and stay on the card and has admitted he was paid his show and win money and will be given another fight.
“I think (Steele) was a big reason why (Ottoni) cut his hand wraps off. Obviously his reputation preceded him and made this guy (scared). Apparently (Ottoni) has a real record, he beat Pereira. It’s fascinating, fascinating,” White added.
