UFC 226: Featherweight champion Max Holloway drops out because of concussion-like symptoms

For the third time since December, Max Holloway, the UFC featherweight champion, has pulled back from a battle, this time after his group and UFC authorities saw that he "was not typical" in view of blackout like side effects that required two outings to the crisis room.

Holloway won't battle Brian Ortega in a UFC 226 session Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, his group declared Wednesday, and UFC won't look for a swap rival for Ortega. "Max's group and UFC staff saw Max was not typical since toward the end of last week. This ended up evident to numerous watching his meetings and open appearances the previous couple of days," the announcement said. "He was demonstrating blackout like indications previously he even began his weight slice and was raced to the ER on Monday where they conceded him medium-term. Beginning outputs appeared to be alright, and he was discharged Tuesday evening, however indications still proceeded."

Holloway (19-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) was reclaimed to the ER for "additionally tests," his group stated, when he "was difficult to wake up" after an exercise. The announcement showed that he had "blazing vision and slurred discourse." Holloway, 26, won the title Dec. 2 with a triumph over Jose Aldo, yet has since dropped out of UFC 222 with a lower leg damage and UFC 223 as a result of issues with cutting weight in the wake of taking a battle without prior warning.

"Max battled with his group to proceed with the battle. He demonstrated some change throughout the following day however was all the while indicating evident side effects," his group's announcement said. "After open exercises, he smashed and was difficult to wake up. When he did, he had blazing vision and slurred discourse. He is currently back in the ER for additionally tests."

The battle with Ortega (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) has been scratched from a card that highlights a heavyweight title protection by Stipe Miocic against light-heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier. Rescheduling the Holloway-Ortega battle for UFC 227 on Aug. 4 has been examined, as per the Los Angeles Times, however there's nothing conclusive on that.