Bobby Knuckles bows out.
UFC Middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has withdrawn from his scheduled title defence against Luke Rockhold next month with an undisclosed injury.
Whittaker was originally scheduled to fight Rockhold for the Middleweight title, however, Rockhold will now fight Yoel Romero for an interim belt in the main event on February 11.
#getwellwhittaker pic.twitter.com/4vAYgzdtcL
— UFC_AUSNZ (@UFC_AUSNZ) January 13, 2018
#UFC221 update#getwellwhittaker https://t.co/q1pxN6WRkl
— UFC_AUSNZ (@UFC_AUSNZ) January 13, 2018
“I would like to apologize to all my supporters and fans of MMA for not being able to put on the show you deserve,” Whittaker wrote on his Instagram account.
“I’ve been ruled medically unable to compete and wont be able to defend on home soil. This card meant so much to me and I’m devastated for not being able to fight.
“All I can do is focus on getting healthy to come back better than ever. All the best to Yoel and Luke for their fight and ill be waiting…”
Breaking on ESPN: Robert Whittaker has pulled out of UFC 221 next month due to injury. Luke Rockhold vs. Yoel Romero for interim title will headline, per UFC. Whittaker will face winner. https://t.co/fhl4dCXUHR
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) January 13, 2018
Whittaker (19-4) won an interim middleweight title last July at UFC 213 with a unanimous decision win over Romero.
He was initially scheduled to fight Georges St-Pierre for the undisputed title before the Canadian chose to vacate the belt after he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis.
