Khamzat Chimaev's highly anticipated UFC clash with Robert Whittaker in Saudi Arabia has been derailed. UFC CEO Dana White announced on Thursday that Chimaev will not compete on June 22 due to a severe illness.

"Unfortunately, Khamzat Chimaev is out of the fight next weekend in Saudi Arabia," White stated. "Violently, and I mean violently, ill. So he's going back home and hopefully he gets well soon."

Stepping into the spotlight is middleweight contender Ikram Aliskerov, who will now face former middleweight champion Whittaker in what promises to be an electrifying showdown.

"This guy is 15-1. His only loss in a 16-fight pro career is to Khamzat Chimaev," White said. "So this dude is a legit contender in only his third UFC fight. If he gets a knockout against Robert Whittaker, he'll go into a tie for the longest active UFC knockout streak... We offered everybody in the division this fight. Nobody would take it except Robert Whittaker. The main event is badass. This should be a great fight."

Sean O’Malley didn’t intend to start a feud with Conor McGregor, but as the saying goes, work until your idols become your rivals.

In May, McGregor unleashed a social media tirade, blasting boxer Ryan Garcia after he tested positive for the banned substance ostarine following a win over Devin Haney. In his rant, McGregor also took a shot at O’Malley, who tested positive for the same substance in 2019.

A few weeks later, McGregor retracted some of those comments during a live stream, saying, “I like Sean O’Malley” and explaining that O’Malley “kind of got caught in the crosshairs” when he was criticizing Garcia.

Despite McGregor's public retraction, O’Malley hasn’t personally spoken to the former two-division UFC champion but remains a fan, even if they are currently at odds.

UFC veteran Nick Diaz is gearing up for his second attempt at a successful comeback. The former Strikeforce welterweight champion, who has competed for UFC gold against notable fighters like Carlos Condit and Georges St-Pierre, has only entered the Octagon once since 2015.

Following a drug test controversy after his bout with Anderson Silva, Diaz's return to the UFC was delayed until UFC 266 in 2021, where he faced Robbie Lawler. In that fight, Diaz struggled to find his form and ultimately did not rise to his feet after being dropped in the third round, prompting many to speculate about his potential retirement.

However, Diaz hinted at future bouts and has now officially announced his return. UFC CEO Dana White recently confirmed the main card for the promotion's return to Abu Dhabi on August 3. One of the featured bouts will be a welterweight clash between Diaz (26-10, 2 NC) and the #14-ranked Vicente Luque (22-10-1).

In a surprising turn of events, light heavyweight contender Khalil Rountree has confirmed his withdrawal from the UFC 303 co-main event against former champion Jamahal Hill. Rountree, who is currently ranked eighth in the division, has been placed under a “temporary suspension” after testing positive for the banned substance DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone).

Rountree was set to make a high-stakes return to the Octagon next month during International Fight Week, co-headlining UFC 303 alongside Hill. However, the fighter announced on his official Instagram account that he will no longer participate due to the suspension.

“I can’t wait to break the news to you all, but I will not be fighting at UFC 303 due to the use of a banned substance,” posted Rountree. “I did not do this on purpose and I am doing everything I can to resolve this situation.”

According to Rountree, the banned substance entered his system inadvertently through a custom-tailored supplement service from a trusted company. The mix-up led to him ingesting DHEA, which is prohibited at all times under the UFC’s anti-doping policy.

The anticipation is building as UFC prepares for its first visit to Manchester, England since 2016. The main card for UFC 304 has been unveiled, promising an action-packed night at the Co-op Live on July 27.

In the headline event, Leon Edwards will defend his welterweight title against Belal Muhammad. This highly anticipated rematch comes after their first bout ended in a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke. Edwards, currently on a 13-fight unbeaten streak, looks to solidify his dominance since claiming the welterweight crown from Kamaru Usman at UFC 278. His opponent, Muhammad, brings his own impressive 10-fight unbeaten streak into the Octagon, eager to prove himself and settle unfinished business.

The co-main event will feature Tom Aspinall defending the interim heavyweight title against Curtis Blaydes. Aspinall, who won the interim belt by defeating Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295, will make his first defense. Originally, Jon Jones was slated to headline UFC 295, but an injury led to the creation of the interim title bout. Blaydes, fresh off a knockout victory over Jailton Almeida at UFC 299, will challenge Aspinall, marking his first title fight in his mixed martial arts career.

As Anthony Smith gears up for UFC 301, he's not shying away from addressing the online trolls who have been targeting him.

Known for his role as a UFC analyst and frequent presence on podcasts, Smith has become accustomed to criticism from online commentators. Often, these critics resort to insults whenever they disagree with his opinions. However, Smith refuses to let the negativity affect him.

During a media day for UFC 301, Smith didn't hold back in his response to the trolls. "Some of it is the position I put myself in as being an analyst," he explained. "Fans are stupid. They are. Like, you guys write an article and they don’t read the article. They just read the headline and they just make up the rest in their head. If they actually read it, almost everything I say makes a lot of sense."