Brazilian contender Renan Barao is out of his bantamweight championship rematch against Team Alphamale's TJ Dillashaw just one day before the fight.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) officials announced that when Barao was cutting weight for the weigh-ins, he fell ill and was taken to the hospital.

Like Us on Facebook

His team reported that when he was cutting weight in his bathtub, Barao stood up, then lost consciousness and hit his head.

When Dillashaw was asked to comment on the recent developments, he said that Barao was scared and that he didn't want the fight.

"His coaches wanted the rematch more than he did," he said. "He'd never missed weight before. It's kinda funny he does it now."

In their previous encounter, Barao was knocked down early in the first round with a punch. Both admitted that Barao was never the same and had a different look in his eyes.

UFC President Dana White said that when Barao gets better, he will not be given an immediate rematch.

UFC has reported that newcomer Joe Soto - who had a fight in the preliminaries against Anthony Birchak - was bumped up to face Dillashaw in the card's main event.

Soto was formerly the first ever featherweight champion in rival organization, Bellator Mixed Martial Arts.

Apart from headlining his first pay-per-view, Soto is now a fixture in UFC history, as he faces Dillashaw in the champ's first title defense.

The card has also suffered another loss, with Henry Cejudo opting out against his flyweight match with Scott Jorgensen.

Cejudo is an Olympic gold medalist in Greco Roman Wrestling. He had already failed the cut to featherweight twice.

White commented that when Cejudo returns, he has to fight at a heavier weight class or none at all.

UFC 177 will also include co-main event between Alphamale teammate Danny Castillo and Ultimate Fighter winner Tony Ferguson. 

TagsRenan Barão, TJ Dillashaw, UFC, Rematch, Cejudo