Max Holloway pulled from UFC 223; Pettis vs Khabib in the works

UFC Featherweight champion Max Holloway has been forced out of his UFC 223 title bout with Khabib Nurmagomedov after the doctors stopped him from cutting weight. Holloway will not attempt to weigh-in.

The news of Holloway’s withdrawal was first reported by ESPN’s Brett Okamoto.

Anthony Pettis has yet to weigh in but if he does he will replace Holloway against Nurmagomedov in the main event.

Anthony Pettis has now been called upon to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov. He has yet to weigh in. He has an hour to do so. He was left opponentless after Chiesa got cut yesterday. UFC confirms. @MMAjunkie first reported.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 6, 2018

Max Holloway is officially out of tomorrow night’s main event. He will not be weighing in. First reported by @bokamotoESPN.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 6, 2018

This from a member of Holloway’s team:

“Max wants to keep pushing and is close but the doctors came up and just stopped it. Doctors stopped it not us. Max was going.”

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 6, 2018

Holloway out. Official announcement here by NYSAC. pic.twitter.com/GnYOEK5qto

— Mark La Monica (@LaMonicaMark) April 6, 2018