UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker was all set to defend the gold against former UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold in the main event of UFC 221.
However, a sick Whittaker was forced to pull out of the fight and then UFC President Dana White revealed that the title holder has a staph infection in the stomach area.
Whittaker has been silent since the news was revealed, but has now broken his silence using Instagram:
Yoel Romero would be announced as the replacement for Whittaker and now he faces Rockhold for the vacant UFC Interim Middleweight Title at UFC 221. Ironically, it was Romero whom Whittaker bested at UFC 213 to become an interim middleweight champion himself.
There is no time frame as to when Whittaker could return to action, but more should be known as the fighter recovers from the ailments that put him on the sidelines.
UFC 221 takes place on Saturday, February 10 from the Perth Arena in Perth, Australia with Luke Rockhold and Yoel Romero headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
