World featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovksi's scheduled title defence next weekend has been called off.
Volkanovski, from the NSW south coast, had been scheduled to defend his belt against American Brian Ortega, but due to COVID protocols, the fight has been cancelled.
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UFC 260 will still go ahead, at the UFC's Apex facility in Las Vegas, with no crowds.
The massive card was due to be headlined by two title fights, and the heavyweight contest between Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou will still go ahead as planned.
It's a brutal piece of luck for Volkanovski, who defeated Max Holloway in 2019 to claim the title and then retained it in a re-match last year.
He is yet to lose as a featherweight in his career, and is a perfect 9-0 in the UFC.
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One of Volkanovski's training partners, Brad Riddell, was removed from tonight's card for the same reason. It is understood that someone who had trained with them has tested positive for COVID-19 or COVID-related symptoms.
Volkanovski had promised a high-paced, high-octane fight against Ortega, who earned his title shot after easily beating 'The Korean Zombie' Jung Chan-sung.
"I'm in phenomenal shape right now and I cannot wait to put on this high pace and I know there's nobody that can keep up with that," Volkanovski told Wide World of Sports last week.
More to come
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