Bellator MMA’s CJ Tuttle confirmed to SevereMMA today 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 due to “an undisclosed injury”.

Update: 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) will replace Fields against McGeary in the main event of Bellator 173.

Filipovic has won 5 of his last 6 bouts including a first round finish of Arpad Torok in his last outing at Serbian Battle Championship 10 in July 2016.

McGeary (11-1) suffered his first career loss in his last bout when he took on former UFC stand out and now Bellator 205lb champion Phil Davis and lost out via unanimous decision back in November 2016.

The upcoming BAMMA 28 and Bellator 173 collaboration event will take place at the SSE Arena, Belfast on 24th February 2017 and the BAMMA portion will be headlined by Norman Parke vs Paul Redmond.