(Editor’s note: Story updated at 4:50 p.m. ET to reflect development of Greg Hardy stepping in on short notice to fight Alexander Volkov.)
Junior Dos Santos is out of his UFC on ESPN+ 21 main event with Alexander Volkov, according to reports.
Dos Santos, the former UFC heavyweight champion, was set to face off against Volkov on Nov. 9 at CSKA Arena in Moscow, but the Brazilian is now out of the event. RT Sport’s Denis Geyko first reported the news via Twitter.
A subsequent report from MMA Fighting stated that Dos Santos has been hospitalized and receiving treatment for a bacterial infection in his leg for over a week. He’s had two separate procedures done to flush out the infected area.
MMA Junkie has reached out to the UFC for official confirmation but has yet to receive a response. It’s unknown at this time if a replacement is being sought, although RT Sport reported Francis Ngannou as a possibility.
Ngannou, who expressed frustration with the UFC in a recent interview with MMA Junkie, seemingly is considering the option, as he shared on Twitter.
Dos Santos was looking to capture his fourth win in his last five outings. Russia’s Volkov is targeting victory in what will be his first UFC appearance since October 2018 at UFC 229, when he was knocked out by Derrick Lewis in dramatic fashion.
UPDATE (4:50 p.m. ET): Greg Hardy will step in on 18 days’ notice to fight Volkov in the UFC Moscow co-main event.
