Joe Riggs out of fight with Paulo Thiago fight after accidental gunshot
Joe Riggs is out of his fight with Paulo Thiago at UFC Fight Night 51: Silva vs. Arlovski on September 13, 2014 in Brazil, after he shot himself while cleaning his gun.
Joe “Diesel” Riggs is on a six fight win streak, and was brought back to the UFC to fight Paulo Thiago, after the initially scheduled Mike Rhodes dropped out due to injury. The fight was to take place at UFC Fight Night 51: Silva vs. Arlovski on September 13, 2014 at Ginásio Nilson Nelson in Brasília, Brazil.
However, according to B/R lead writer Jeremy Botter, Riggs is out, uniquely.
Jeremy Botter @jeremybotter
•This is a 1st: Riggs out of fight w/ Thiago after shooting himself while cleaning gun.
•In other news, Joe Riggs probably needs to learn how to handle weapons from @TimKennedyMMA.
•When I was in Iraq, after a long day of missions, I accidentally discharged my weapon in my tent. I’ll never forget it. Scariest moment.
•My discharge also happened while cleaning the weapon. Shot a hole in the roof of my tent. Could have been so much worse.
•My platoon, rightly so, did not speak to me for a few days. I deserved every bit of it.
•I’d cleaned my weapon hundreds of times. Done the same routine hundreds of times. Just wasn’t thinking. Horrifying.
We were made aware that newly-signed UFC competitor Joe Riggs was involved in an unfortunate accident last night,” reported UFC.com. “While cleaning his permitted firearm (a pistol), the gun discharged, injuring his hand and upper thigh. Riggs was transported to a nearby hospital in Arizona where he is being treated by physicians. We wish Joe a speedy recovery.
Riggs has been replaced with Sean Spencer. Spencer is coming off a split decision loss to Alex Garcia at UFC 171.