One of the biggest championships fights of the year is off with the news breaking Wednesday night that Max Holloway will be unable to fight this Saturday at UFC 226.
The news came courtesy of Ariel Helwani at ESPN that the featherweight champion was displaying concussion-like symptoms over the past week and rushed to the emergency room on Monday. Holloway was discharged on Tuesday after several scans were performed. The symptoms continued and culminated with on Wednesday afternoon with Holloway fell asleep after the open workout and had a hard time being woken up. When Holloway finally awoke, he was slurring his speech and had flashing vision. He returned to the emergency room after this latest episode.
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A statement from Holloway’s management was released to ESPN outlining the issues they witnessed from Holloway over the past week.
Holloway was scheduled to defend his featherweight title against Brian Ortega in the co-feature of UFC 226 this Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is unknown what will happen with Ortega and his status for the card.
This is the third fight Max has pulled out of this year. Makes you wonder if his body is going to be able to keep doing this. Hopefully he’s ok and will be able to keep fighting, but I’m definitely concerned about his health, and (if he’s healthy) I’m not sure he’s has much of a future at featherweight.
On the note of fighter pull outs, this is such a huge problem for the UFC right now. How many main event and co main events have been changed thus far this year? It’s insane. I will not claim to have some miraculous solution to the issue, but at this point it’s clear that something has to change in MMA, because the sheer number of pull outs and fighters missing weight is hurting the sport like nothing has before it.
That all being said, still an amazing card on Saturday. Stipe Miocic vs Daniel Cormier is one of the most exciting fights in UFC history, and I’ll definitely be buying this PPV.
Doesn’t look like like Ortega is getting a replacement, preferring to wait for the title shot. Doesn’t want to make the same mistake Frankie made a couple months ago I suppose.
Stephens vs Aldo at the end of the month should be a good fight though. If Jeremy wins that one I imagine a title shot is around the corner.
how many PPV cards has UFC run this year and what is the count as far as top matches that have been altered? I feel like every big card has been altered in the week leading up to it. Nuts
