Emanuel Newton will no longer be facing Jiri Prochazka at Rizin 14. The former Bellator light heavyweight champion broke a rib in training and will be replaced by compatriot Brandon Halsey.
The new matchup was announced by Rizin’s official Twitter account:
『Cygames presents RIZIN.14』対戦カード変更のお知らせ
エマニュエル・ニュートン選手が練習中に肋骨を骨折をし、ドクターストップにより欠場となりました。ブランドン・ホールジー選手がイリー・プロハースカ選手の対戦相手となります。#RIZINFF #RIZIN2018 #RIZIN14 pic.twitter.com/GM5oAtORmf— RIZIN FF OFFICIAL (@rizin_PR) December 18, 2018
Halsey (12-4) is also a former Bellator champion, although he won the title as a middleweight. His three most recent fights have taken place under the PFL banner where he has registered two wins and one loss.
Prochazka (22-3) is riding a streak of six victories that includes five Rizin wins. The Czech light heavyweight has been heavily linked with the UFC, which has a card booked in Prague on February 23rd, and will be desperate to extend his winning run.
There are currently 14 fights on the Rizin 14 card which is set for the Saitama Super Arena on New Year’s Eve and will be headlined by an exhibition bout involving Floyd Mayweather and Tenshin Nasukawa. There is also an event happening in the same venue that morning entitled Heisei’s Last Yarennoka.
Rizin FF 14, Tokyo, December 31st
Exhibition: Floyd Mayweather vs. Tenshin Nasukawa (Welterweight)
Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Darrion Caldwell (For Rizin Bantamweight Title)
Kanna Asakura vs. Ayaka Hamasaki (For Rizin Atomweight Title)
Rena vs. Samantha Jean Francois (Atomweight)
Yusuke Yachi vs. Johnny Case (Lightweight)
Kazuyuki Miyata vs. Erson Yamamoto (Featherweight)
Ulka Sasaki vs. Manel Kape (Flyweight)
Yuki Motoya vs. Justin Scoggins (Catchweight)
Nobumitsu Tyson vs. Tofiq Musayev (Lightweight)
Jiri Prochazka vs. Brandon Halsey (Light Heavyweight)
Shinju Nozawa Auclair vs. Justyna Haba (Catchweight)
Daron Cruickshank vs. Damien Brown (Lightweight)
Mika Nagano vs. Miyuu Yamamoto (Atomweight)
Gabi Garcia vs. Barbara Nepomuceno (Heavyweight)
