"My head is spinning right now'... UFC 309 loses former champion as medical issues result in last-minute fight cancelation

Headliner out, replacement called in

UFC 309 has lost its main event after former bantamweight champion Holly Holm was forced to withdraw from her bout with Amanda Nunes due to undisclosed medical issues, the promotion announced on Saturday.

Holm, who won the title in 2015 and defended it once before losing to Miesha Tate in March 2016, was scheduled to face Nunes in the main event of UFC 309 on July 6 in Las Vegas.

With Holm out, Germaine de Randamie, the former featherweight champion, has been called in to replace her.

What happened?

UFC president Dana White said at a press conference on Saturday that Holm had been experiencing "some medical issues" in recent weeks and that she had been advised by doctors to withdraw from the fight.

White did not disclose the nature of Holm's medical issues, but he said that she was "very disappointed" to have to pull out of the fight.

"Holly is a true warrior," White said. "She's one of the toughest fighters in the world. But she's also a very smart woman, and she knows when to listen to her body."

What's next?

With Holm out of the fight, de Randamie will now face Nunes in the main event of UFC 309.

De Randamie, who won the inaugural featherweight title in 2017, is coming off a win over Aspen Ladd in February.

Nunes, who is the reigning bantamweight champion, is coming off a win over Raquel Pennington in May.

The fight between Nunes and de Randamie is expected to be a close one. Both fighters are known for their striking power and their grappling skills.

UFC 309 will take place on July 6 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.