In an unexpected turn of events, Justin Tafa has been forced to withdraw from his bout against Marcos Rogerio de Lima at UFC 298. The announcement was made during the weigh-in stream for the event, leaving fans and fellow fighters surprised by the last-minute change.

Tafa's withdrawal was attributed to a mysterious injury, although no specific details were provided. This unfortunate development has left fans wondering about the future plans for both fighters. It remains unclear whether the promotion intends to reschedule the bout or pursue separate paths for Tafa and De Lima.

One silver lining in this situation is that neither fighter had to go through the difficult process of cutting weight. This eliminates concerns about turnaround times if the matchmakers decide to schedule their fight on a nearby card.

Despite this setback, UFC 298 will proceed with its scheduled 12 fights, including the Prelims on ESPN and ESPN+. The event, taking place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, marks the promotion's return to the venue after a hiatus of over two years.

The main event of the evening will feature a highly anticipated World Featherweight Championship bout between reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski and undefeated Spanish contender Ilia Topuria. Additionally, former Middleweight champion Robert Whittaker will face off against Paulo Costa in the co-main event.

Fans can catch the entire UFC 298 fight card through a live round-by-round coverage provided by MMAmania.com. The event will kick off with the early ESPN+ Prelims matches at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard fights on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET. The PPV main card will then begin at 10 p.m. ET exclusively on ESPN+ PPV.

For the latest updates and news on UFC 298: "Volkanovski vs. Topuria," fans can visit the comprehensive event archive. Additionally, the finalized fight card and ESPN+ lineup can be accessed through the provided link.

It remains to be seen how the promotion will handle Tafa's withdrawal and whether there will be any adjustments to the future fight card. UFC fans eagerly await the action-packed event on Sat., Feb. 17, 2024, which promises to deliver thrilling matchups and intense competition.