Holloway, “medically unfit”, pulled from UFC 223

NEW YORK — Max Holloway was deemed medically unfit to fight by the New York State Athletic Commission on Friday morning and was pulled from Saturday’s UFC 223 main event.

Kim Sumbler, the executive director of NYSAC, said it was a joint decision between the Commission and the UFC.

“After careful review between the state athletic commission and the UFC medical teams, Mr. Holloway is deemed medically unfit to attend the scales at this time,” Sumbler told reporters at weigh-ins.

Holloway was supposed to challenge Khabib Nurmagomedov for the lightweight title at Barclays Center. Holloway, the featherweight champion, accepted this fight last Sunday after interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson withdrew with a knee injury. Nurmagomedov made weight at 154.5 pounds.

Anthony Pettis, a former champion, could have stepped in for a title shot. He weighed in at 155.2 pounds just before 11 a.m. Friday. Under NYSAC rules, he had two more hours to reach the championship fight weight of 155 pounds. (For non-title fights, fighters are granted a one-pound allowance to account for differences in scales.) Shortly afterward, NYSAC officials removed the scale and said Pettis would not be weighing in again. UFC officials have yet to announce details of Nurmagomedov’s opponent, if there is one, as well as any other changes to the fight card.

Pettis originally was scheduled to fight Michael Chiesa, but that fight was called off when Chiesa was deemed unfit to compete after suffering cuts on his face when Conor McGregor threw a metal hand cart at a bus carrying UFC fighters.