GSP vacates; Whittaker vs Rockhold set for title at UFC 221

UFC announced tonight that Georges St-Pierre has vacated the UFC’s middleweight championship and that interim champion Robert Whittaker has been promoted to the champion.

Newly crowned UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker will face Luke Rockhold in the main event at UFC 221.

GSP returned from his long hiatus from the sport and won the UFC middleweight belt by defeating Michael Bisping via rear naked choke in the 3rd round at UFC 217 last month but has relenquished the belt after he has diagnosed with ulcerative colitis.

Whittaker (19-4) defeated Yoel Romero by unanimous decision over five rounds to win the interim UFC middleweight strap in his last outing at UFC 213 back in July 2017.

Last time out Rockhold (16-3) submitted David Branch due to strikes at UFC Fight Night 116: Rockhold vs. Branch in September 2017 to bounce back after losing his UFC middleweight title to Michael Bisping back in June 2016.

UFC 221 is set to take place on 10th February 2018 at The Perth Arena in Perth, Australia.

https://twitter.com/ufc/status/938951789835177984

Owner/Editor of SevereMMA.com. Writer, Podcaster, Producer of 'Notorious: Conor McGregor' film, 'Conor McGregor: Notorious' TV series, 'Ten Thousand Hours', 'The Fighting Irish' and more documentary films.

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