Holloway’s withdrawal from the match-up is due to a “undisclosed ailment,” according to that outlet. According to the source, the UFC will announce a new main event for the July 17 card in the coming days.
It’s unclear whether Rodriguez will fight another opponent on this card or wait to face Holloway whenever the Hawaiian is cleared to compete.
Holloway’s most recent fight was in January, when he defeated Calvin Kattar by unanimous decision. That victory came after two losses in a row to Alex Volkanovski. Holloway lost his UFC featherweight title in the first fight, which took place at UFC 245 in December 2019.
Holloway had held the 145-pound title since TKOing Jose Aldo in 2017. He successfully defended his title against Aldo (by TKO), Brian Ortega (by TKO), and Frankie Edgar (unanimous decision).
Rodriguez hasn’t fought since beating Jeremy Stephens by unanimous decision at UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Weidman in October 2019. That battle was a rematch of a fight that took place a month prior and ended in a no contest when Stephens was accidentally poked in the eye.
Prior to that fight Rodriguez pulled off a walk-off elbow KO over Chan Sung Jung in a 2018 Fight of the Year candidate. That win followed Rodriguez’s first UFC loss, a TKO to Frankie Edgar at UFC 211. Leading up to that fight Rodriguez had impressed with six straight wins to start his UFC career, including wins over Dan Hooker, Alex Caceres and B.J. Penn.
Last August, Rodriguez was set to battle Zabit Magomedsharipov in his return to the ring. However, due to an ankle injury, the Mexican boxer was forced to withdraw.
Rodriguez was subsequently suspended for six months after failing to notify USADA of his movements and refusing to submit to drug tests.
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