LAS VEGAS -- Less than 24 hours after UFC 226 lost its co-headliner, UFC officials breathed a sigh of relief after seemingly avoiding another crisis.
At the end of Thursday's UFC 226 prefight news conference, UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier tripped over a speaker and fell to the ground. He lay on the floor for a few seconds before getting up and limping offstage.
Cormier re-emerged moments later to square off with his opponent for Saturday night, UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic.
Cormier told ESPN on Thursday night that he was resting and icing his leg in his hotel room. He said he didn't hear a pop when he fell and was confident the fall would not hinder his ability to perform Saturday. He said his leg was a little swollen but that he wasn't worried about it.
"I didn't see the speaker and don't know why it was there," Cormier said.
UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway was forced to withdraw Wednesday night from his co-main event fight against Brian Ortega after experiencing concussion-like symptoms earlier in the week.
The UFC attempted to book Ortega versus Jeremy Stephens for the interim featherweight title in its place, but sources told ESPN that Ortega is electing to wait for Holloway.
UFC 226 will take place Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.