The UFC has installed a backup plan for its welterweight title fight between Tyron Woodley and Darren Till at UFC 228 on Sept. 8 in Dallas.
Welterweight contender Kamaru Usman (13-1) will submit all required medical forms in the state of Texas and officially weigh-in on Sept. 7, in the event something happens to Woodley or Till.
Usman's manager, Ali Abdelaziz, confirmed the plans to ESPN. Usman does not have an official fight scheduled at UFC 228. He is a perfect 8-0 since signing with the promotion in 2015.
"Just a deep feeling in my soul, September 8th I will be the new welterweight champion of the world!!!" Usman wrote on Twitter.
UFC bouts fall through all the time, for a variety of reasons. Woodley (18-3-1), who will be seeking his third consecutive title defense, has never had an issue making weight and has actually never pulled out of a UFC fight for any reason.
Till (17-0-1), however, has missed weight twice in his last four appearances, including a main event showcase in his hometown of Liverpool less than three months ago. He is preparing for this fight in Las Vegas and recently told ESPN he guarantees he will make weight.
"I am going to make weight, even if I have to kill myself and be 10 percent, 20 percent worse on fight day," Till said. "I'm going to make that 170 mark. That's my fight. My fight's not the fight. I don't give a f--- about Tyron Woodley. My fight is the weight."
The UFC has made a habit of backing up its main event recently.
Last month, heavyweight Alexander Volkov weighed-in prior to UFC 226 in Las Vegas, even though he wasn't scheduled to fight on the card. Middleweight Thiago Santos confirmed he received compensation to do the same for The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale on July 6.
