The MMA Community React To Max Holloway Withdrawing From UFC 226
International Fight Week 2018 has suffered a big blow today following the withdrawal of Max Holloway.
The news was first reported by Ariel Helwani:
Breaking: Max Holloway is out of UFC 226. Here is a statement from his management team, exclusive to ESPN. More coming shortly. pic.twitter.com/PO4Zm0DeBC
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 5, 2018
The MMA community then reacted to the devastating news:
Max Holloway's withdrawal from #UFC226 marks the 17th co-main or main event change to the UFC calendar so far in 2018. It's also the 4th consecutive year International Fight Week has lost a championship bout (and third-straight during fight week).
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) July 5, 2018
Max Holloway has now been forced to pull out of his last 3 fights (all in 2018)
UFC 222 (Frankie Edgar)
UFC 223 (Khabib Nurmagomedov)
UFC 226 (Brian Ortega)— Jason Floyd (@Jason_Floyd) July 5, 2018
International Fight Week timeline:
UFC 189: Aldo pulls out shortly before fight with McGregor
UFC 200: Jones pulled from the card due to an anti-doping violation
UFC 213: Nunes withdraws due to complications with Sinusitis.
UFC 226: Holloway withdraws days prior.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) July 5, 2018
A disaster for everyone:
1. Holloway, who we can only hope will be OK and can recover from this.
2. The UFC, who loses their co-main the week of the fight. A replacement seems unlikely and unlikely to match the level of intrigue this fight offered.
3. Ortega, who loses big opp
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) July 5, 2018
Check out Holloway on UFC Tonight and, specifically, Michael Bisping noticing he didn't seem all there. WATCH: https://t.co/aBVXWQSShm
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) July 5, 2018
The rigors of modern professional MMA – from the training to the weight cuts to the anti-doping protocol and beyond – make promoting it especially and increasingly difficult.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) July 5, 2018
Max looked like a totally different at open workouts. Very lethargic and slow. Fourth straight international fight week to get the injury bug #UFC #UFC226
— José Youngs (@JoseYoungs) July 5, 2018
Crazy. I said to @JoseYoungs earlier today after open workouts that Max looked ill and didn’t look himself. Scenes. https://t.co/hh2yF0SaAm
— Jim Edwards (@MMA_Jim) July 5, 2018
Definitely felt like something was off with Max today. Very low-energy at open workouts, and when I asked him he skirted the question. 2018 has been brutal to him, with injury forcing him out of UFC 222 in March, pulled from UFC 223 in April and now this. Hoping the best for him.
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) July 5, 2018
Concussion-like symptoms is a real concern reading that statement about Holloway. This is so awful.
— Mookie Alexander (@mookiealexander) July 5, 2018
Becoming a holiday tradition to announce big fight cancellations. First april fools now 4th of july, can't wait to hear what fight gets cancelled on labor day.#ufc
— Jed I. Goodman (@jedigoodman) July 5, 2018
Max Holloway is OUT of UFC 226. Confirmed with his manager following the initial news from ESPN. #UFC #UFC226
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) July 5, 2018
