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Ariel Helwani
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ESPN Staff Writer
Ariel Helwani is an MMA reporter at ESPN. Follow him on Twitter at @arielhelwani.
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Brett Okamoto
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ESPN Staff Writer
- MMA columnist for ESPN.com
- Analyst for “MMA Live”
- Covered MMA for Las Vegas Sun
Luke Rockhold (16-4) told ESPN on Friday that he has been forced to withdraw from the UFC 230 co-main event against Chris Weidman (14-3) due to multiple injuries.
According to Rockhold, his surgically repaired left shin recently got infected again, forcing him to have a stem-cell graft inserted. In addition, he said he sprained his right knee on Thursday and also recently broke his nose.
“I need at least one weapon to make it to the party,” he said.
Rockhold is hoping to return to action in late 2018 or early 2019 after what his doctors are saying will be a four-week recovery.
The UFC will keep Weidman on the Nov. 3 card at Madison Square Garden in New York. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza will take the place of Rockhold.
Souza, a former Strikeforce champion, was scheduled to fight David Branch. Branch will remain on the card and face Jared Cannonier, according to White.
Rockhold-Weidman 2 was a rematch of a fight that happened at UFC 194. Rockhold won via fourth-round TKO en route to becoming middleweight champion.
UFC 230 will be headlined by Daniel Cormier vs. Derrick Lewis for the UFC heavyweight title.