Not long before Friday’s Legacy FC 29 event, the main event was pulled when featherweight title challenger Shane Howell fell ill.

As the broadcast on AXS TV kicked off, play-by-play voice Michael Schiavello confirmed what promoter Mick Maynard had reported to aXS TV earlier – that Howell had the flu, and his shot at Leonard Garcia’s 145-pound title was on hold.

That shifted the title fight between Paul Buentello and Myron Dennis for the vacant light heavyweight strap up to the lead position.

Legacy FC 29 takes place at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tulsa, Okla. The main card airs on AXS TV.

But Garcia turned the bummer of a night into a positive.

“(I want the fight) as soon as possible, I hope,” Garcia said on the AXS TV broadcast. “I’m gutted. It’s an unfortunate thing, but God’s got a bigger plan. But some good came of this trip.”

Garcia then proposed to his girlfriend in the cage to apparently salvage the trip.

Garcia recently won the Legacy FC belt with a first-round knockout of Kevin Aguilar at Legacy FC 26 (watch the Garcia vs. Aguilar video highlights). Since a five-fight losing streak that prompted his UFC release this past year, the fan favorite has posted three consecutive stoppage victories, all with Legacy FC.

Howell is a promotional newcomer and onetime Bellator fighter and was looking to continue a run of his own. Since opening his record with a ho-hum 4-6 record, Howell has won nine of his past 10 fights and six straight. Eleven of his 13 career victories have come via stoppage, including seven via submission.

There was no early word on just how soon Garcia vs. Howell would be rescheduled. Legacy’s next event is slated for April 4, headlined by Holly Holm in Albuquerque, N.M. – coincidentally, where Garcia has long trained at the Jackson-Winkeljohn camp.

For more on Legacy FC 29, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Leonard Garcia)