Kamaru Usman to serve as potential replacement for UFC 228 main event

It looks like Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is taking extra precautions for Tyron Woodley’s upcoming welterweight title defense opposite Darren Till at UFC 228 on Sept. 8.

According to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, welterweight contender Kamaru Usman will be on standby in case something happens to Woodley or Till leading into UFC 228. If either fighter is unable to compete for any reason, Usman would step in on short notice and keep the main event in tact. He will not only submit medicals but also weigh in during fight week.

Usman, 31, is coming off a unanimous decision win over Demian Maia this past May. The former Ultimate Fighter winner hasn’t lost since entering UFC three years ago, turning in a perfect 8-0 record with victories over notable up-and-comers like Leon Edwards and Warlley Alves.

You can’t blame UFC for keeping Usman in the loop leading into next month’s event. Woodley has never had to pull out of a fight before, but the champ has been nursing a bum shoulder and Till has missed weight twice since entering UFC back in 2015. The promotion is simply covering all angles.

UFC 228 will go down live on pay-per-view (PPV) from inside American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, and feature a co-main event title fight between UFC women’s flyweight champion Nicco Montano and former bantamweight title challenger Valentina Shevchenko.

For complete UFC 228 fight card news click here.