Report: Robert Whittaker pulls out of UFC 248 co-main event for 'undisclosed personal reasons'

Robert Whittaker, left, won't fight at UFC 248. (AP Photo/Jim Young)

Robert Whittaker has pulled out of his scheduled fight at UFC 248 against Jared Cannonier for “undisclosed personal reasons,” ESPN’s Ariel Helwani reports.

The middleweight bout was scheduled as a co-main event alongside a women’s strawweight title fight between champion Weili Zhang and Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

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Whittaker is the former middleweight champion who lost his title in a knockout loss to Israel Adesanya at UFC 243 in October.

UFC looking for another fighter

The UFC is seeking a top contender to take Whittaker’s place, but there remains no opponent for Cannonier, according to the report. Meanwhile, Adesanya told Helwani last Monday that he’s planning to defend his title in the main event at UFC 248 vs. Yoel Romero, though that fight is yet to be announced.

UFC 248 is scheduled for March 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

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