Ferguson out of UFC 223, Holloway to fight Khabib for lightweight title

The UFC 223 headliner looks completely different now with Tony Ferguson having to bow out with an injury.

Just six days before UFC 223 goes down, an injury has shaken up the headliner. But this time, the UFC has found a replacement that might even add more allure to the top fight on the card. Interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson has been forced out of the event due to a knee injury, according to reports from Brett Okamoto of ESPN and Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting.

And his replacement will be featherweight champion Max Holloway.

Holloway with fight Khabib Nurmagomedov for the lightweight title, looking to become just the fifth fighter in UFC history to win belts in two divisions. UFC president Dana White confirmed the news on Twitter:

Dana says it’s not an April Fool’s joke, and that Holloway is a “stud” for stepping up in the video. The 145-pound champ was forced out of a title defense set for UFC 222 last month due to his own injury. But it looks like he’s good to go now. Holloway is 14-3 in the UFC and is on an twelve-fight winning streak. All of them came at featherweight, of course.

Nurmagomedov is a perfect 25-0 in his MMA career and is 9-0 in the UFC.

UFC 223 goes down Saturday, April 7th in Brooklyn, NY.