Eddie Alvarez will not be competing in the ONE Championship World Grand Prix lightweight finals after all.
Alvarez was forced to pull out of the fight versus Saygid Arslanaliev due to a left ankle injury, sources told ESPN.
ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong announced Alvarez's withdrawal on Twitter on Thursday morning, and Alvarez subsequently confirmed the news later in the day.
As a result, ONE lightweight champion Christian Lee will replace Alvarez in the finale, per Sityodtong.
This is the same ankle injury that Alvarez was dealing with going into the semifinal fight versus Eduard Folayang in August. According to sources close to Alvarez, the injury never healed and recently got worse, forcing him out of the fight. No word just yet on when he'll be able to return to action.
My apologies, I am gutted , I can hold my head up and say with all honesty I gave this opportunity my all . I wanted this as bad as anything I ever wanted but for some reason it's not my time right now . It's time to rest and heal and come back stronger .
— Eddie Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) September 26, 2019
The event, One Championship 100, takes place Oct. 13 in Tokyo. The card, which will be divided into two parts, features 22 fights of either the MMA, kickboxing or Muay Thai variety. Former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson battles Danny Kingad in the flyweight Grand Prix finale.