Not long before UFC 234 is set to begin in Melbourne, Australia, it’s being reported that headliner Robert Whittaker has been forced out of the event due to a medical issue.
Dana White has informed ESPN’s Brett Okamoto that Whittaker will no longer fight Kelvin Gastelum, as the middleweight champ’s been diagnosed with a hernia. According to the report, Whittaker started feeling pain in his abdomen last night, and after going to the hospital, the hernia was discovered. The Australian fighter will likely undergo surgery soon.
So, due to Whittaker’s withdrawal, the fight between Anderson Silva and Israel Adesanya has been moved into the headlining spot. The middleweight contest will still be three rounds.