Graeme McDonnell 
Bellator MMA’s CJ Tuttle confirmed to SevereMMA during the week that Irishman Chris Fields has been forced to withdraw from the Bellator 173 light-heavyweight main event bout with Liam McGeary later this month in Belfast.
Fields revealed to Petesy Carroll on Newstalk that the reason for withdrawal is “a problem with the carotid artery in my neck. It will clear up by itself, but just not in time for the fight.”
Vladimir Filipovic (8-2) had been set to replace Fields against McGeary at Bellator 173, however Petesy Carroll revealed this afternoon that Brett McDermott (7-4) will now face McGeary in the main event.
UK MMA veteran McDermott had announced his retirement after he defeated Dan Konecke in his last outing and went 3-3 in his last 6 bouts.
Last minute change to the #Bellator173 main event. @liam_mcgeary will now take on UK legend Brett McDermott @BebeMcdermott @SevereMMA
— Peter Carroll (@PetesyCarroll) February 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/andremgeorgiou/status/834403424498229248
