The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) faced further setbacks for UFC 318 as Gunnar Nelson announced his withdrawal from the scheduled welterweight matchup against Neil Magny. The event, set for Saturday, July 19, 2025, at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, now faces uncertainty following Nelson’s injury. This development follows already negative feedback from fight fans concerned about the UFC 318 fight card injury update and the overall quality of the pay-per-view lineup.
Details on Nelson’s Severe Hamstring Injury
Nelson revealed the nature of his injury to his followers on Instagram, describing it as a two-part hamstring problem. He stated,
“I won’t get into any crazy details about the injury but I’ll tell you it’s a two-part injury,”
and further explained,
“So there is a tear in one of the muscles in the hamstring, which is a Grade 2b injury. It’s not too bad, so it’s possibly something that we could have worked with. However, the second injury is on the tendon inside the muscle, which is a full thickness tear, so a Grade 4c injury and that’s a more serious one.”
This combination of injuries has made it impossible for him to compete at UFC 318.
Impact on Nelson’s Training and Recovery Timeline
Addressing the impact of his injury on preparation, Nelson emphasized his current incapacity in grappling activities. He said,
“Basically, I’m absolutely useless when it comes to any type of grappling scenarios,”
adding,
“I’m not able to wrestle or grapple or kick and apparently it will be another eight weeks at least until I can comfortably have any type of grappling training at full speed. At least eight weeks. The good news is, I won’t have to do surgery so I’ll hopefully be good to go at the end of the year or late this year, so that’s my plan.”
His withdrawal marks another instance of Nelson stepping back from a fight against Magny.
Uncertainty Surrounding Replacement and Event Outlook
As of now, the UFC has not provided information on whether a short-notice replacement for Nelson will be sought to face Neil Magny at UFC 318. With the injury contributing to ongoing challenges for the ESPN+ prelims card, the fight card’s final lineup remains unclear in the days leading up to the event. Fans and stakeholders will be watching closely for updates that could affect the event’s competitive appeal and overall reception.
Significance for UFC 318 and Fans
Nelson’s injury compounds frustrations among fight fans already skeptical about UFC 318’s lineup quality. His serious hamstring tear sidelines a significant matchup on the card and threatens to diminish the event’s depth. The extended recovery timeline for Nelson also means that his return to the octagon will be delayed until later this year, influencing future scheduling and fight planning within the welterweight division.
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