Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway has been ruled out of his planned trilogy bout with reigning 145-pound champion Alexander Volkanovski, according to reports.
Holloway was all set to face Volkanovski in an eagerly-anticipated third title bout in the main event of UFC 272, which is set to take place in Las Vegas on March 5.
However, sources told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto that Hawaii’s Holloway, 30, had aggravated a previous injury on Thursday and that the fighter informed the UFC of his withdrawal from the bout.
It means Volkanovski’s participation in the event is now in doubt, with the UFC yet to make an official announcement on the bout’s status.
The fight card has a second title fight – the bantamweight championship unification bout between current champion Aljamain Sterling and interim champion and former undisputed champ, Petr Yan – which could potentially be bumped up to main event status.
But if Volkanovski is still keen to compete on that date, the UFC could turn to a former champion to fill the vacancy at the top of the fight card.
Former two-division world champion and Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo threw his hat in the ring by tweeting an offer to step in and fight for the title.
“Triple C to the rescue,” he wrote.
“@danawhite you have my number.”
