Reigning UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker (19-4) has been forced to withdraw from his first title defence, at UFC 221 in February. The pull out comes after the champ suffered an undisclosed injury in training.
As a result, an interim title bout will now take place between Luke Rockhold and Yoel Romero as the main event of UFC 221, at the Perth Arena, in Perth Australia.
A disappointed Whittaker has now released a statement regarding the withdrawal Via social media. The full statement can be read below.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bd4hLW2lDzU/?taken-by=robwhittakermma
With Whittaker forced out of the headlining bout in his home country, the former champion Rockhold will now face Yoel Romero on less than a months notice. Rockhold last took to the octagon in September 2017 in his second round stoppage of David Branch.
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