The news that Frankie Edgar had to pull-out of his UFC 218 fight with Max Holloway has just hit and there is bound to be a tsunami of featherweight fighters jumping at the shot to step in. Edgar will have to undergo face surgery, forcing him out of his shot at the title, meanwhile Cub Swanson is at the top of the wave crashing in to replace him. Cub Swanson wants Max Holloway at UFC 218 to challenge for that UFC featherweight title.

Besides someone completely out of left field, the other options to step in for Max Holloway would be two men already booked in another fight as well. Ricardo Lamas is scheduled to fight Jose Aldo at UFC Winnipeg, but either one of those could easily be plucked to save UFC 218 because a pay-per-view always takes priority. Of course, the UFC could always try to put together a whole new fight and wait until they can re-book Edgar and Holloway, but putting together a half of a fight is easier than a whole one.

Cub Swanson is currently booked to fight Brian Ortega at UFC Fresno, but if the UFC wants to keep Max Holloway on UFC 218 then they don’t have that many options. The last time these guys fought was back in 2015, but a lot has changed since Swanson tapped to Holloway’s guillotine choke. Max Holloway went on to win five more straight and take the title from Jose Aldo, while Swanson has won four straight. 

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 11/8/2017.