Injuries force Edgar-Maynard off UFC 130

The rubber match for lightweight champion Frankie "The Answer" Edgar and Gray "The Bully" Maynard won't happen at the end of this month, after all.

Edgar had to withdraw from the Ultimate Fighting Championship's May 28 show because of back and rib injuries, the promotion said Monday. Edgar was scheduled to defend the 155-pound title against Maynard in the main event of UFC 130 in Las Vegas.

Maynard also had to pull out of the event because of an injured knee, UFC said. He would have fought with an ailing knee for a title, Maynard told USA TODAY, but after being informed that Edgar pulled out, he decided to get minor surgery on his knee to take care of the problem.

Both lightweights should be recovered from their injuries in six to eight weeks, UFC President Dana White said.

Edgar and Maynard fought to a draw on Jan. 1. The May 28 fight would have been the rubber match of a trilogy. Maynard won their first fight via unanimous decision in 2008, before either man was a contender for the lightweight belt.

A fight between Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Matt "The Hammer" Hamill will be elevated to the main event of UFC 130. Jackson and Hamill are Nos. 4 and 17 in the USA TODAY/SB Nation consensus rankings.

Heavyweights Frank Mir and Roy Nelson will fight as the co-main event.