Max Holloway Deemed ‘Medically Unfit,’ Out at UFC 223; Anthony Pettis Tabbed as Replacement

New York State Athletic Commission Executive Director Kim Sumbler announces that Max Holloway has been ruled out of #UFC223.

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— MMAjunkie (@MMAjunkie) April 6, 2018

A failed weight cut has forced Max Holloway to withdraw from the UFC 223 main event on Saturday (now available on Amazon Prime) in Brooklyn, New York, according to the New York State Athletic Commission.

The NYSAC deemed the Hawaiian “medically unfit” to compete. Holloway, who already holds the promotion’s undisputed featherweight championship, was scheduled to meet Khabib Nurmagomedov for the lightweight crown as a short-notice fill-in for the injured Tony Ferguson.

Anthony Pettis will replace Holloway in the headliner, where he faces the undefeated Nurmagomedov and his 25-0 record for the lightweight title. The Roufusport star’s fight with Michael Chiesa was canceled on Thursday, when Chiesa was injured during Conor McGregor’s alleged attack on a charter bus at the Barclays Center. A video of the incident surfaced, appearing to show McGregor tossing objects into the bus and shattering a window. Chiesa reportedly suffered multiple facial lacerations as a result of the Irishman’s actions. McGregor later turned himself into police and was charged with three counts of assault and one count of criminal mischief.

Pettis last appeared at UFC Fight Night 120 in November, when he submitted to a body triangle from Dustin Poirier. The former Ultimate Fighting Championship and World Extreme Cagefighting champion has lost five of his past seven bouts.

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