Visa Issues Force Mairbek Taisumov to Withdraw from UFC 203 Bout vs. Nik Lentz

Mairbek Taisumov will not be able to face Nik Lentz at UFC 203 (live odds) due to visa issues, the fighter announced via Twitter on Friday.

“Once again my visa application to the U.S. was declined. I have no idea why...[maybe they’re] saving their fighters from me,” Taisumov wrote. “I want to apologize to my opponent, Nik Lentz, for this and tell him that I’m ready to fight with him anywhere outside [the] U.S.”

The UFC has not made a formal announcement regarding the status of the bout, and it is unclear if a replacement opponent will be sought for Lentz. UFC 203 takes place at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland on Sept. 10 and is headlined by a heavyweight title clash between Stipe Miocic and Alistair Overeem.

The 28-year-old Russian has won four straight fights in the promotion, including first-round knockout of Damir Hadzovic in his most recent outing at UFC Fight Night “Rothwell vs. Dos Santos” on April 10. Lentz last competed at UFC on Fox 17 in December, when he captured a split verdict against Danny Castillo.