Rousimar Palhares-Jon Fitch Title Fight Scratched from WSOF 11

Rousimar Palhares' first WSOF title defense will have to wait. | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

Promotion officials verified the move via social media on Wednesday after World Series of Fighting matchmaker Ali Abdelaziz told MMAFighting.com that Palhares withdrew from the bout due to personal reasons.

It is unknown if the WSOF will book Fitch against a new opponent at the July 5 event, but the show will move forward with a Justin Gaethje-Nick Newell lightweight title headliner. The NBC Sports Network-broadcast main card is also expected to see UFC alumni Jake Shields and Melvin Guillard make their promotional debuts.

Palhares, 34, captured the WSOF welterweight title in his first appearance with the Las Vegas-based organization, tapping out Steve Carl with an inverted heel hook in just 69 seconds one month ago at WSOF 9.

Fitch, 36, rebounded from back-to-back defeats in his most recent outing, when he took a split decision from Marcelo Alfaya at WSOF 6. The former UFC title challenger debuted in the WSOF last June, suffering a first-round technical submission defeat to Josh Burkman in a rematch of their 2006 Octagon encounter.