Hailey Cowan, scheduled to fight Tamires Vidal at UFC Vegas 92, had to withdraw from the bout due to a severe leg injury. Cowan revealed that what she initially thought was a sprained ankle from wrestling turned out to be a broken fibula.
Despite pushing through training for two weeks with daily physical therapy, an X-ray revealed the extent of the injury, forcing her out of the fight. Fortunately, she won’t require surgery and is expected to have a speedy recovery, rehabbing in Las Vegas.
Melissa Gatto steps in to face Tamires Vidal in place of Hailey Cowan at UFC Vegas 92. Gatto, with a UFC record of 2-2, returns to the bantamweight division for this fight after primarily competing in flyweight.
Her most recent bout was a split decision loss to Ariane da Silva at UFC Vegas 76. Meanwhile, Vidal, who joined the UFC in 2022, holds a record of 1-1 in the promotion, coming off a split decision loss to Montserrat Rendon at UFC Vegas 79.
UFC Vegas 92’s main event features a featherweight clash between Edson Barboza and Lerone Murphy. With Cowan sidelined, Gatto and Vidal’s matchup adds depth to the event’s card. Despite Cowan’s setback, she remains optimistic, assuring her fans that she’ll be back in the cage in a few months. The UFC Performance Institute staff is providing her with excellent care as she focuses on her rehabilitation.
