Rumors are swirling around UFC 222 following Max Holloway’s injury

Rumors are swirling around UFC 222 following Max Holloway’s injury!

Earlier today the mixed martial arts world was hit with some terrible news.

ESPN’s Brett Okamoto announced that current UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway had suffered an injury and would no longer be able to participate in his scheduled UFC 222 main event title fight with Frankie Edgar.

Shortly after the news broke, rumors immediately began to surface about potential replacements for the event which takes place March 3 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

MMAFighting’s Ariel Helwani announced that the promotion was already targeting a replacement for Max Holloway in the form of Brian Ortega, as well as a possible new event headliner, a bantamweight title fight rematch between T.J. Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt.

Not finalized, but the current plan is Edgar vs. Ortega in a non-title fight on March 3. And if that gets done, then they’d hope to have a new title fight (TJ vs. Cody 2 has been discussed) as the headliner. Still fluid at the moment. Developing.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) February 3, 2018

The proposed non-title fight between Edgar and Ortega is still being negotiated and has yet to be made official by the UFC.

However, shortly following Helwani’s report, some MMA media outlets announced that the aforementioned bantamweight title fight rematch between Dillashaw and Garbrandt was official for UFC 222.

Those reports were quickly refuted by BJPenn.com’s Chris Taylor.

Despite reports, I'm told that @TJDillashaw vs. @Cody_Nolove 2 is NOT a done deal for #UFC222. I assume the UFC will have to offer TJ a ton of $$$ to save the event. Fighting Cody again comes with a lot of risk. Not only could he lose his BW strap, but also his superfight with DJ

— Chris Taylor (@CTaylor_96) February 3, 2018

“Despite reports, I’m told that @TJDillashaw vs. @Cody_Nolove 2 is NOT a done deal for #UFC222. I assume the UFC will have to offer TJ a ton of $$$ to save the event. Fighting Cody again comes with a lot of risk. Not only could he lose his BW strap, but also his superfight with DJ.” – Chris Taylor

Shortly after that, the former UFC bantamweight champion of the world, Cody Garbrandt, took to Twitter where he announced that he had signed on to rematch Dillashaw at UFC 222 and encouraged T.J to do the same.

Hey bang! Your fighter needed help to the stool after round one! You know what it is! Lighting doesn't strike twice, take the fucking fight bitchass mfers! I accepted! Balls in your court. @TJDillashaw

— Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) February 3, 2018

“Hey bang! Your fighter needed help to the stool after round one! You know what it is! Lighting doesn’t strike twice, take the fucking fight bitchass mfers! I accepted! Balls in your court. @TJDillashaw” – Cody Garbrandt

T.J. Dillashaw scored a second-round knockout victory over Cody Garbrandt in the co-main event of November’s UFC 217 fight card in New York. Following the emotional win, Dillashaw announced that he would be turning his focus to flyweight in hopes of dethroning pound-for-pound great Demetrious Johnson.

Just two days ago, we broke the news that a super-fight between Dillashaw and “Mighty Mouse” was in the works to co-headline July’s UFC 226 event in Las Vegas.

This just in! Per sources – The wheels are officially in motion to have TJ Dillashaw vs. Demetrious Johnson co-headline UFC 226 on July 7 in Las Vegas.

— Chris Taylor (@CTaylor_96) February 1, 2018

With that said, Dillashaw would be risking not only his bantamweight title but also his slated super-fight with Demetrious Johnson by accepting this proposed short-notice UFC 222 fight with Cody Garbrandt.

Not surprisingly, Dillashaw’s head coach Duane Ludwig responded to the recent UFC 222 main event rumors by telling Ariel Helwani that the team was focused on “DJ”, while adding that Cody still had work to do.

Just spoke to @TJDillashaw’s head coach @DUANEBANGCOM on the possibility of Dillashaw vs. Garbrandt 2 happening in March. His response: “We want DJ. Cody needs to earn a rematch first."

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) February 3, 2018

“Just spoke to @TJDillashaw’s head coach @DUANEBANGCOM on the possibility of Dillashaw vs. Garbrandt 2 happening in March. His response: “We want DJ. Cody needs to earn a rematch first.” – Ariel Helwani

While it doesn’t appear that “No Love” will get his wish to rematch T.J Dillashaw on short-notice for UFC 222, another top bantamweight contender is ready and willing to throw down with Garbrandt.

@TJDillashaw wants @Cody_Nolove to fight his way back to a title shot, I’d love to be the first roadblock in that plan. #20fightwinstreak #ufc #darkhorse #bantemweightbattle

— Jimmie Rivera (@JimmieRivera135) February 3, 2018

How do you think the UFC 222 drama will play out? Sound off PENN Nation!