Alex Volkanovski hospitalized with blood infection in Chile

Yesterday afternoon, news surfaced that the UFC is targeting a featherweight title fight between Max Holloway and Frankie Edgar for UFC 240 in July. The widespread reaction to this news is that top featherweight contender Alex Volkanovski, who just defeated Jose Aldo at UFC 237, is being snubbed.

As it turns out, this is probably the least of the Australian’s contenders worries at present.

Speaking on Twitter, Volkanovski’s manger Rhys Dal Cin announced that Volkanovski is currently hospitalized in Chile, where he’s been treating for a blood infection that took hold during his flight home from Brazil to Australia.

@arielhelwani @1bbradfo @AlexJOates11 @bokamotoESPN @UFC_AUSNZ @ufc @JamesAveris @nickwalshaw pic.twitter.com/x643otjflq

— Rhys Dal Cin (@rhysdalcin) May 14, 2019

“Hey all,” Dal Cin wrote on Twitter. “Alex is ok. He is being treated for an infection that developed quickly while on our flight home. We are currently in Chile and will provide updates as they come to hand. The medical staff have been fantastic, he’s in good hands, and Alex is in great spirits!”

Having defeated the former champion and consensus featherweight goat, Alex Volkanovski is now a fantastic 19-1 overall and 7-0 in the UFC. Other highlights of his run in the Las Vegas based promotion include stoppages of Chad Mendes and Jeremy Kennedy, and a decision defeat of the famously durable Darren Elkins.

Post-fight, he called for the next crack at the featherweight champion Max Holloway, but he will apparently not be getting that opportunity. The good news is that, with Edgar fighting Holloway in July, the Australian should be able to contend sometime in the fall when he’s all healed up.

Stay tuned for further updates on this situation as they emerge.

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 5/13/2019.