Following the news of an incident from five years ago when Will Chope was kicked out of the United States Air Force, his scheduled fight against Diego Brandao tonight at UFC Fight Night 38 and he has been released by the organization. 
UFC officials announced the fight cancelation today on Twitter after it was reported by Globo earlier this morning.
The UFC has released a statement on the cancelation of Chope and confirmed that he has been released by the organization.
“Tonight’s featherweight bout between Will Chope and Diego Brandao has been canceled after UFC officials were made aware of Chope’s previous military conviction,” the statement said. “The UFC does not condone behavior of this nature whatsoever and Chope has been released from his contract.”
Also, the UFC has confirmed that Brandao will be paid his show and win bonus money. After the announcement of the fight cancelation, Chope released a statement on Facebook about the incident that happened five years ago.
“My fight has been canceled for a 5 year old mistake I made. I am truly sorry to all the fans and will do everything I can to make this right,” Chope wrote on Facebook. “I have spoken with my ex-wife on the phone and she supports what I am doing and together we will make a formal press release as soon as I get back to the USA on Wednesday.”
With Chope-Brandao being off tonight’s card, the event will go forward with eleven fights and the light heavyweight bout between Francimar Barroso and Hans Stringer will be elevated to the Fox Sports 1 prelims.
The current UFC Fight Night 38 fight card lineup is below.
Main Card: (Fox Spors 1 – 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT)
Maurico Rua (22-8) vs. Dan Henderson (29-11)
Cezar Ferreira (8-2) vs. C.B. Dollaway (14-6)
Leonardo Santos (12-4) vs. Norman Parke (20-2)
Fabio Maldonado (20-6) vs. Gian Villante (11-4)
Mairbek Taisumov (21-4) vs. Michel Prazeres (17-1)
Rony Jason (14-4) vs. Steven Siler (23-11)
Preliminary Card: (Fox Sports 1 – 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT)
Ronny Markes (14-2) vs. Thiago Santos (8-2)
Jussier Formiga (15-3) vs. Scott Jorgensen (14-7)
Thiago Perpetuo (8-1-1) vs. Kenny Robertson (12-2)
Francimar Barroso (16-3) vs. Hans Stringer (21-5-3)
Preliminary Card: (Fight Pass – 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT)
Noad Lahat (7-0) vs. Godofredo Pepey (9-3)