The headline event for UFC Fight Night Dublin was cancelled late on Wednesday night. The reason: a concussion sustained in training by Joseph Duffy.
The Donegal fighter was scheduled to take on Dustin Poirier this Saturday at the 3Arena. Paddy Holohan vs Louis Smolka has since been bumped up to main event.
There was a chance that Poirier could still have starred in the headline fight, but his management team turned down the opportunity for him to fight Norman Parke.
Parke, from Antrim, revealed on Twitter that he was offered the chance to take on Poirier.
@andrewmcgahon_ @PaddyHolohanMMA @SevereMMA @SeanSheehanBA I was offered the fight..
— STORMIN NORMAN PARKE (@norman_parke) October 21, 2015
But Poirier's team refused.
@SevereMMA @andrewmcgahon_ @PaddyHolohanMMA @SeanSheehanBA I said yes but he refused, but then again more for him to lose, I'm still focused
— STORMIN NORMAN PARKE (@norman_parke) October 21, 2015
In a tweet to Parke, Poirier further clarified the decision.
. @norman_parke this was my team's and management's decision to let the small fish go and fight Duffy when he's healthy.
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) October 21, 2015
Parke is still scheduled to face Reza Madadi on Saturday.
