The UFC debut of Ryan Jimmo is on hold due to an ankle injury.

Jimmo, a former Halifax resident who was scheduled to face Karlos Vemola on Friday as part of UFC on FX in Nashville, Tenn., reportedly suffered the injury while training.

The 30-year-old has won 16 straight fights since losing his mixed-martial arts debut in 2007. He has held the Maximum Fighting Championship light-heavyweight belt since last February, successfully defending that crown with victories in April and October.

Jimmo, a Saint John, N.B., native who moved to Halifax in 2006 for mixed-martial arts training, fought four times in Halifax during the first two years of his career. He now lives and trains in Edmonton.