Robert Whittaker has ruled himself out of the UFC's blockbuster card in Sydney that is scheduled for next year.
The 34-year-old and his partner are expecting their sixth child imminently, which would've put a halt to his training camp for the fight.
Speaking on Main Event recently, 'The Reaper' explained the circumstances around his withdrawal from the event.
"I want to, my head wants to - but I just don't think it's going to happen," Whittaker said.
"We have a baby due in a few weeks and I want to be there for that period.
"I'll be at the card for sure, but I'll probably be a little later down the track."
The last time Whittaker fought on Australian shores was in November of 2016 at Fight Night Melbourne.
Since then, the Sydney-based fighter has gone on to forge a remarkable career in the promotion, including capturing the middleweight title.
However, his recent form has been inconsistent, losing three of his last five fights including his last two on the bounce.
Despite dropping fights to Khamzat Chimaev and Reinier De Ridder, Whittaker remains in the title picture and will no doubt attract a highly touted opponent in his next bout.
Brazilian contender Caio Borralho called Whittaker out to fight in "The Reaper's' own backyard.
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Whilst that matchup won't materialise for the upcoming Sydney event, that is a fan-friendly matchup that could be made at some point in the future.
Other fighters within Whittaker's sphere of contention include Sean Strickland, Michael Venom Page and familiar rival Israel Adesanya.