Garry withdraws from UFC 296 fight vs. Luque due to illness

A welterweight meeting between Ian Machado Garry and Vicente Luque has been removed from Saturday's UFC 296 card due to the former dealing with an illness, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed Wednesday.

Garry had to withdraw after coming down with the flu, which developed into pneumonia.

"They tried everything to help me. In the end, UFC doctor said there's no chance I can fight. The UFC doctor made the call," Garry told Ariel Helwani of "The MMA Hour."

He added: "This annoys me more than anyone. I want to fight. It's my favorite thing to do.

Questions over the fight emerged after Garry was a no-show for UFC 296's media day on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old Irish fighter was set to enter the bout with a 13-0 MMA record, including a 6-0 mark in the UFC. He defeated Neil Magny by decision in his last Octagon appearance at UFC 292.

Saturday's card will be headlined by a main-event match between Leon Edwards and Colby Covington.