The UFC’s final card of 2019 will be left scrambling for a main event.
Former featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega has been forced to withdraw from his scheduled headliner with Chan Sung Jung at UFC on ESPN+ 23.
MMA Junkie confirmed an ESPN.com report Wednesday that Ortega is out because of an undisclosed injury, according to a person with knowledge of the situation but not authorized to speak publicly.
With Ortega (14-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) unable to compete, the UFC is currently searching for a replacement opponent to fight Jung (15-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC) later this month. Ortega’s withdrawal means he will go all of 2019 without competing. His last fight was in December 2018, when he lost a TKO to 145-pound champion Max Holloway.
UFC on ESPN+ 23 takes place Dec. 21 at Sajik Arena in Busan, South Korea. The entire card streams on ESPN+.
