Bout pulled from UFC Utica reportedly due to ‘chapped lips’

UFC Fight Night 131 lost a bout just hours before its start time.

UFC Fight Night 131 won’t go entirely unscathed.

All fighters on the card successfully made weight Thursday morning — somewhat of a rare commodity these days. But Friday afternoon a strawweight bout between Jessica Aguilar and Jodie Esquibel was pulled from the event less than two hours before the event was expected to start.

Jordan Sherwood first reported the news Friday, but he did not give a reason for the cancellation. MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani also reported that Aguilar vs. Esquibel was off. UFC officials have yet to confirm the cancellation.

The New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) cancelled the bout due to a medical concern with Aguilar. The concern was initially brought up Thursday, and the commission requested that Aguilar receive medical clearance from doctors. She did, but the fight was scrapped the following day, anyway.

On Friday, Helwani spoke with a NYSAC rep, but the rep could not give details on the cancellation.

Aguilar told Helwani that her bout was pulled from the card, which takes place in Utica, New York, due to “chapped lips.”

“NY commission is horrible and don’t understand everything we go through to make it here,” she said. “It’s absolutely crazy and heartbreaking.”

Per Helwani, Aguilar and Esquibel both want to re-book the fight as soon as possible.

UFC Fight Night 131 will proceed with 12 bouts, with a new start time of 6:55 PM ET/3:55 PM PT. In the main event, Jimmie Rivera faces Marlon Moraes at bantamweight.