UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway won’t defend his belt at Saturday’s UFC 226 after withdrawing with medical concerns. (AP) Featherweight champion Max Holloway won’t defend his title against top contender Brian Ortega at Saturday’s UFC 226 after pulling out with medical concerns. Holloway experiencing ‘concussion-like’ symptoms ESPN’s Ariel Helwani shared a message from Holloway’s management team on Wednesday that Holloway has been suffering from mysterious concussion-like symptoms and convinced him to withdraw out of concern for his health. ESPN’s Ariel Helwani shared a statement from his management team: Max’s team and UFC staff noticed Max was not normal since late last week. This became obvious to many watching his interviews and public appearances the past few days. He was showing concussion-like symptoms before he even started his weight cut and was rushed to the ER on Monday where they admitted him overnight. Initial scans seemed okay, and he was released Tuesday afternoon, but symptoms still continued. Max fought with his team to continue with the fight. He showed some improvement over the next day but was still showing obvious symptoms. After open workouts, he crashed and was very hard to wake up. When he did, he had flashing vision and slurred speech. He is now back in the ER for further tests. Another blow for Holloway Beyond the obvious health scare, the news continues a bad run for Holloway, who has had to pull out of his prior two scheduled fights in March and April. Holloway withdrew from the UFC 222 main event against Frankie Edgar in March after injuring his leg in training. He then was slated to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov for the lightweight title in April, but had to withdraw when the New York fighting commission wouldn’t allow him to cut additional weight. The news is also another blow for UFC, which has seen numerous high-profile fights cancelled or changed this year. USA Today’s Mike Bohn notes that this is the 17th time UFC has lost a big fight in 2018. 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 Holloway still looking to build on to legacy Story continues Holloway, 26, has successfully defended his title twice and is one of the sport’s rising stars. He referred to UFC 226 as the “Super Bowl” of UFC prior to withdrawing and is surely disappointed at another failed fight. “It just was depressing, man,” Holloway said of his inability to fight in March and April. “That was, look, I was used to fighting two to four times a year. Last year, I had two. The year before that I think I had two. This year is my first one and I’m supposed to have two. The depressing stuff was it got taken away from me.” “You want to be a part of the big card,” Holloway said. “You want to be part of history. … It means a lot to me to be able to have this spot on this card. This is like the Super Bowl of the UFC, a blockbuster, a big blockbuster hit that comes out in the summer, this is it.” More from Yahoo Sports: • LaVar Ball guarantees two LA Lakers championships • Paul George says he wanted to come to Lakers before OKC trade • Joey Chestnut sets world record by eating 74 hot dogs • Leonard Fournette helps LSU senior pay for tuition<doc-sep>UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway has been pulled out of his Saturday night fight and hospitalised with ‘concussion-like symptoms’. The Hawaii MMA hero was set to defend his crown against Brian Ortega after two devastating failed fights earlier in the year – one through injury and the other a failed weight cut on short notice. 5 Max Holloway looked uncharacteristically slow at his media workout Credit: Getty - Contributor But he made it a horror hat-trick when he was pulled from the Las Vegas UFC 226 showdown after showing worrying signs of a head injury during the build-up. Holloway’s management team released a statement to MMA junkie saying:“Max’s team and UFC staff noticed Max was not normal since late last week. “This became obvious to many watching his interviews and public appearances the past few days. “He was showing concussion-like symptoms before he even started his weight cut and was rushed to the ER on Monday where they admitted him overnight. 5 Max Holloway did not seem himself during a TV interview with Michael Bisping Credit: Twitter @JustBlessedMMA 5 Quicksilver Holloway looked lethargic in training and interviews Credit: Getty - Contributor “Initial scans seemed okay, and he was released Tuesday afternoon, but symptoms still continued. “Max fought with his team to continue with the fight. "He showed some improvement over the next day but was still showing obvious symptoms. “After open workouts, he crashed and was very hard to wake up. When he did, he had flashing vision and slurred speech. He is now back in the ER for further tests.” LATEST MMA NEWS Pictured MIND GAMES Conor McGregor taunts Poirier with reflective glasses showing his brutal 2014 KO Video 'MAYBE IN THE FUTURE' Lomachenko teases UFC switch after being gifted personalised gear WEIGH TO GO Conor McGregor says he'll make 'championship weight' for Poirier UFC trilogy NUR WAY Khabib Nurmagomedov turned down $100M offer to box Floyd Mayweather, says agent WAITING GAME Jones hints it will be a YEAR before UFC return as he bulks up to heavyweight CON ARTIST McGregor slammed by Abdelaziz as 'high-end prostitute' as bitter row escalates The Blessed One’s cursed year started in March when he was pulled from a mouthwatering war with Frankie Edgar due to a leg injury. The following month the 26-year-old accepted a lightweight title fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 223 on just six days’ notice. But he was pulled out of the bout by the New York commission on weigh-in day due to medical concerns. British MMA legend Michael Bisping, now retired and working as a pundit, spotted worrying signs of Holloway’s condition earlier in the week during a satellite interview. 5 Max Holloway agreed to step up a weight class in order to fight Russian Khabib Nurmagomedov but was pulled Credit: AP:Associated Press 5 British MMA legend Michael Bisping spotted a change in Holloway Credit: Twitter @Bisping The Count, speaking to Holloway live via a monitor, said: “You say you feel great, and don’t be offended when I say this, but you look like you just got out of bed. “Are you tired, what’s going on, how’s the weight cut? Are you drained? You look a little sleepy.” And the ex-middleweight champion was spot on as the luckless champ was hospitalised just days later.<doc-sep>The International Fight Week curse lives on. Since 2014, the UFC has promoted multi-event weeks for International Fight Week, Unfortunately, also during that time at least one major fight has dropped off of one of the scheduled cards. In 2014, Chael Sonnen failed a drug test and was removed from a fight with Vitor Belfort (that was originally supposed to be against Wanderlei Silva before a whole host of issues interceded to prevent that fight). In 2015, Jose Aldo pulled out of his scheduled title defense against Conor McGregor for UFC 189. In 2016, McGregor was pulled out of a rematch with Nate Diaz after fake retiring and then Jon Jones failed a drug test to force him out of his scheduled rematch with Daniel Cormier. Last year, Amanda Nunes pulled out of her scheduled bout with Valentina Shevchenko for UFC 213. And now, Max Holloway has been forced off UFC 226 due to concussion like symptoms. Holloway’s removal from his scheduled title defense against Brian Ortega is a major blow to one of the best cards of the year. Undefeated in MMA, and riding a streak of six consecutive finishes, Ortega appears to be the most interesting challenger for Holloway’s title. The two will likely be set to rematch each other once Holloway’s injury concerns have abated, but in the meantime, see how the MMA world reacted to the loss of the UFC 226 co-main event. My thoughts and my respect are with 145lb World Champion Max ‘Blessed’ Holloway. — Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 5, 2018 Keep your head up Champ, I know what it is, believe in yourself. @BlessedMMA — khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) July 5, 2018 As someone who knows the dangers of this sport very well, my thoughts and well wishes are with @BlessedMMA and his family. Hopefully this passes quickly and we get to see him doing what he does best very soon. — michael (@bisping) July 5, 2018 Damn. Hope Holloway is ok. Fighters safety is always paramount and wish him a speedy recovery. #UFC226 https://t.co/GTvZL0zDqM — The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) July 5, 2018 I feel so bad for Max. This was huge for him. Hope nothing permanent is going on. #ufc226 https://t.co/NfVDsaDBbN — Zak Cummings (@ZakCummings) July 5, 2018 Wtf!!! Max Holloway is out !!!! #ufc226 — JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) July 5, 2018 .wow concussion is no joke! #UFC226 ,good move from @ufc and his Team,safety first! — Nordine Taleb (@TNT83MMA) July 5, 2018 All the best to @BlessedMMA and wish him a speedy and full recovery. Big fights come go but we only have one body. Health and safety is the most important thing. — Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) July 5, 2018 And I was looking forward to this one! https://t.co/pvx5JGftLP — Marion Reneau (@BelizeanBruiser) July 5, 2018 Health is what matters the most...I wish you the best @BlessedMMA! True warrior!! — Chas Skelly (@ChasSkelly) July 5, 2018 This shit is real. The guy has a family. Symptoms like that are nothing take lightly. Rest up @BlessedMMA everyone already knows your a bad ass you don’t need to prove that. #UFC226 https://t.co/JBU6EicGih — Damien Brown (@beatdown155) July 5, 2018 Gutted for @BlessedMMA, he’s a true champ fighting with his people to let him show up knowing he wasn’t well. Heal up max, everyone will be waiting patiently for your return! — Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) July 5, 2018 Disappointed to hear @BlessedMMA is out of #ufc226 but glad to see fighter safety being a priority — Cris Cyborg #CyborgNation (@criscyborg) July 5, 2018 My guess would be @FrankieEdgar to replace @BlessedMMA — Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) July 5, 2018 Showtime vs Ortega at 55 — Belal muhammad (@bullyb170) July 5, 2018 Seriously bummed that @BlessedMMA is out of @ufc 226, but more concerned with his health and well being. I hope everything ends up well for Max and that he is able to resume his career soon. Also big ups to his people for not letting this fight go through — Big John McCarthy (@JohnMcCarthyMMA) July 5, 2018 MUST-READ STORIES TUF 27. Check out the results from the last episode of The Ultimate Fighter 27. Out. Max Holloway is out of his scheduled featherweight title defense against Brian Ortega. Finish. Daniel Cormier: I would have finished Francis Ngannou ‘if I spent 22 minutes on top of him.’ Plans. Stipe Miocic says UFC called him about Cormier bout two days before Ngannou fight. Exposed. James Vick says Justin Gaethje has been ‘exposed’ in UFC: ‘I don’t think he’s a world-class fighter.’ VIDEO STEW Reaction to the news. Timeline for UFC 226. Embedded. Gaethje on Conor vs. Khabib. Tate on Conor vs. Khabib. Can you name all the UFC champions ever? LISTEN UP Heavy Hands. Previewing UFC 226 and Wyman’s last ride. Obviously Fight Talk. Previewing UFC 226: Miocic vs. Cormier. SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE Can’t imagine this will happen. All the best to @BlessedMMA and wish him a speedy and full recovery. — Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00) July 5, 2018 The answer always answer @FrankieEdgar Biggest gangster in the UFC let’s do this — Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00) July 5, 2018 Matt Serra is amazing. Bisping called it. Michael Bisping recently called out Max Holloway on UFC tonight for looking and sounding a bit off. #UFC226 pic.twitter.com/GYub8gtgD0 — JustBleedMMA (@JustBleedMMA) July 5, 2018 Cormier is so good at every single facet of MMA. UFC light heavyweight champ @DC_MMA cut an incredible promo at the #UFC226 Open Workouts . Do you think he gets it done against Stipe Miocic? pic.twitter.com/LEFnnrPDtb — MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) July 4, 2018 Soon. Smash him #soon A post shared by Khabib Nurmagomedov (@khabib_nurmagomedov) on Jul 4, 2018 at 2:29am PDT Vitor still wants it. Stepping up. I know a guy who’s ready and willing https://t.co/8ITJi3nG6L — Eryk Anders (@erykanders) July 5, 2018 Matchmaking. Sounds fun to me! pic.twitter.com/Ortg8FmFMk — Ryan Couture (@RyanDCouture) July 5, 2018 Elite level Twitter post. T-Wood not having any of it. Keep hearing about some sparring session. This was filmed the same day.....tell me who y’all think got them hands and legs on this day? #FourthofJuly #ShotsFired pic.twitter.com/vMcEFq5JJ8 — Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) July 5, 2018<doc-sep>Featherweight champion Max Holloway withdrew Wednesday from his title defense against Brian Ortega that was scheduled for UFC 226 on Saturday with concussion-like symptoms. (Getty Images) LAS VEGAS — Featherweight champion Max Holloway was forced Wednesday to pull out of his planned title defense against unbeaten challenger Brian Ortega on Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 226 at T-Mobile Arena with concussion-like symptoms. ESPN’s Ariel Helwani broke the news, only hours after Holloway participated in a public workout at the MGM Grand. According to a statement from Holloway’s management team, he was hospitalized Monday and released Tuesday. When he didn’t seem right on Wednesday after the public workout, he was re-admitted to the hospital and withdrawn from the card. It is not clear if Ortega will still appear on the card. “Max’s team and UFC staff noticed Max was not normal since late last week. This became obvious to many watching his interviews and public appearances the past few days. He was showing concussion-like symptoms before he even started his weight cut and was rushed to the ER on Monday where they admitted him over night. Initial scans seemed okay, and he was released Tuesday afternoon but symptoms still continued. “Max fought with his team to continue with the fight. He showed some improvement over the next day but was still showing obvious symptoms. After open workouts, he crashed and was very hard to wake up, when he did he had flashing vision and slurred speech. He is now back in the ER for further tests.” This is the fourth time in as many years that a major fighter was forced to pull out of a fight on the UFC’s major “International Fight Week” show. In 2015, Jose Aldo pulled out of a UFC 189 match with Conor McGregor because of a rib injury. Jon Jones was yanked from a UFC 200 bout with Daniel Cormier because of a failed drug test. And last year, women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes pulled out of a match at UFC 213 with Valentina Shevchenko on the morning of the fight. Holloway also was yanked last-minute from a planned fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 223 in Brooklyn in April. Holloway accepted that fight late, when Tony Ferguson was injured, and was going to compete for the lightweight title. But he had difficulty with his weight cut and was removed for precautionary reasons.<doc-sep>
Mike Bohn MMAjunkie LAS VEGAS — UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway’s return to the octagon has been postponed again. Holloway (19-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) has been hospitalized with concussion-like symptoms and won’t compete against Brian Ortega in Saturday’s UFC 226 co-main event, MMAjunkie confirmed following a report from ESPN. Holloway’s management team released a statement to MMAjunkie with details on the situation: Max’s team and UFC staff noticed Max was not normal since late last week. This became obvious to many watching his interviews and public appearances the past few days. He was showing concussion-like symptoms before he even started his weight cut and was rushed to the ER on Monday where they admitted him overnight. Initial scans seemed okay, and he was released Tuesday afternoon, but symptoms still continued. Max fought with his team to continue with the fight. He showed some improvement over the next day but was still showing obvious symptoms. After open workouts, he crashed and was very hard to wake up. When he did, he had flashing vision and slurred speech. He is now back in the ER for further tests. The situation continues a brutal 2018 campaign for Holloway. He was forced to withdraw from UFC 222 in March due to injury. He then took a short-notice lightweight title fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 223 in April but was pulled by the New York commission on weigh-in day due to medical concerns. MORE FROM UFC 226 Holloway, 26, arrived at UFC 226 open workouts on Tuesday and only spent a few minutes hitting pads before wrapping things up. Usually intense, "Blessed" was noticeably low energy. When asked about the workout by MMAjunkie, Holloway diverted from the question and pointed to the size and intensity of the crowd on hand. "I feel great. I felt the energy from the crowd and stuff. It was crazy," Holloway said. "I was feeding off of them. It was super crazy. We were just hitting mitts, you know. It’s a show. ... Some of these fans, they’re crazy here. They love me here. Like I said, this is like the ninth island of Hawaii. This is perfect." Now, Holloway won’t be able to fight at UFC 226, either, and his future is uncertain. It’s unknown at this time if the UFC will attempt to find a short-notice replacement for Ortega, or if the fight will be rescheduled at a later date.