CRAIG T. KOJIMA / JUNE 21
Max Holloway was admitted to the hospital twice in three days due to concussion-like symptoms, according to his management team. He was yanked from the fight on Wednesday.
Select an option below to continue reading this premium story.
Already a Honolulu Star-Advertiser subscriber? Log in now to continue reading.
Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight champion Max Holloway made his first public comments on social media Friday since he was forced off of tonight’s UFC 226 pay-per-view for health reasons.
Holloway wrote on Instagram, “It is what it was. Respect to (Brian) Ortega and his team. Thank you Dana White and the UFC staff for making my health (a) priority. Also thank you to Jeremy Stephens and Frankie Edgar for being about that champ life and stepping up. I see you. To all the fans I know this rollercoaster can be frustrating because my team is also on it with you. All I can say is I’m truly sorry and I hope you guys stay buckled in because it is far from being over. Don’t let the bad surprises distract you from the good surprises in this great sport. The best is still blessed.”
Holloway was scheduled to defend his title against Ortega in the co-main event, but was admitted to the hospital twice in three days due to concussion-like symptoms, according to his management team. He was yanked from the fight on Wednesday.
It is the third fight this year Holloway has had to pull out of.
UFC president Dana White said Thursday he doesn’t expect Holloway to fight “anytime soon.”
Holloway won the interim featherweight title in December 2016 against Anthony Pettis and unified the belt with a TKO victory over Jose Aldo in June 2017.
His current 12-fight winning streak is the fifth longest in UFC history.
