And the fights were gonna be so good too…

After a seamless and spectacular UFC 217, where all Main card fights were immune to health issues, the in injury bug has finally exacted it’s revenge. Yesterday former Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar announced that he has been forced to withdraw from his Dec. 2 title challenge against UFC Featherweight champion Max Holloway at UFC 218 due to an undisclosed injury. And Dominick Cruz is out of his UFC 219 fight with Jimmie Rivera due to a broken arm.

According to sources, Edgar suffered his injury earlier this week. He does not need surgery and will be ready to fight again in 12 weeks.

The champion Holloway was looking to continue his historic run after winning 11 consecutive fights — a run which most recently sported a third-round TKO of former champion Jose Aldo. Over the course of his rise to gold, “Blessed” has accumulated victories over the division’s best, including Anthony Pettis, Ricardo Lamas, Cub Swanson, Jeremy Stephens, and Charles Oliveira.

The fight between Cruz and Rivera is equally disruptive, as it ostensibly would have decided the next challenger to the Bantamweight belt that T.J. Dillashaw won off Cody Garbrandt this past weekend at 217.

Cruz, the longtime 135-pound champion, re-gained the title from Dillashaw in January 2016 before dropping it to Garbrandt last December at UFC 207. He has not fought since, citing a desire to let his body heal from planar facitis and other injuries minor injuries that back-to-back camps can create.

Rivera, 28, is on a stunning roll, having won his last 20 fights, the most recent five being the UFC. The New Jersey native is undefeated since 2008, his second career pro bout.

Bantamweight contender John Lineker told MMA Fighting on Wednesday that he would be interested in replacing Cruz and facing Rivera on the UFC’s annual year-end show. That would certainly be a suitable replacement, as both are heavy hitting veterans.

Cub Swanson also posted a suggestive GIF on his Instagram upon news of the Edgar injury. He is coming off of a three round Fight Of The Year war with Dooho Choi and a five round clinic victory over Conor McGregor’s training partner Artem Lobov.

Who do you think will replace Frankie Edgar and Dominick Cruz?

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