March 27, 2024 7: 15 pm ET
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – A curveball was thrown Nate Landwehr’s way ahead of his return to the octagon, and he was more than OK with it.
The fan-favorite UFC featherweight was scheduled to make his return against Pat Sabatini at Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 54. However, about three weeks out from the event, Sabatini withdrew from the matchup and was replaced with Jamall Emmers (20-7 MMA, 4-3 UFC). It’s a drastic change in challenges, but one that Landwehr (17-5 MMA, 3-3 UFC) welcomes.
“I feel like it’s better for the fans,” Landwehr said at the UFC on ESPN 54 media day on Wednesday. “I feel like the Pat Sabatini fight would’ve been less exciting. I think this is going to be a good, exciting fight for the fans to see.”
Landwehr thinks the Sabatini matchup lent itself to being a less action-packed bout than the