Injuries have put the UFC in an awkward position when it comes to the featherweight division.
Earlier this month, UFC 145-pound champ Alexander Volkanovski put an end to any debate about if he is better than Max Holloway when he scored a definitive unanimous decision win over the ex-titleholder in their third matchup. During that bout, Volkanovski suffered a thumb injury that required surgery. That surgery is likely to keep him out of the octagon for some time. On Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, Volkanovski said his next fight isn’t likely to happen until the first quarter of 2023, when he said the UFC is planning a trip to Australia.