Rockhold out, Whittaker-Brunson moved to UFC Melbourne main event

UFC Fight Night 101 has a new main event.

Luke Rockhold was originally scheduled to headline the UFC's Nov. 26 card in Melbourne, Australia opposite Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, but it was reported on Tuesday that he was forced to withdraw with a knee injury.

On Wednesday, the UFC confirmed Rockhold's withdrawal and announced that a bout between middleweight contenders Robert Whittaker and Derek Brunson would become the new five-round main event. Upon hearing the news, Whittaker said he wasn't bothered by having to prepare for two more rounds of action.

"It's not a problem," Whittaker said. "I always train for the long fights anyway."

Whittaker will headline a UFC event in his home country for the first time since joining the promotion in 2012. "The Reaper" has compiled a 7-2 record in the Octagon, with wins in his last six contests. Currently No. 7 in the official rankings, Whittaker owns a unanimous decision win over fellow top-10 middleweight Uriah Hall.

The No. 8-ranked Brunson is also on an impressive streak with five straight wins, four by first-round knockout. In his most recent outing, he needed less than two minutes to defeat Hall by TKO.