A positive coronavirus case has led to UFC losing one of its title challengers on next weekend’s UFC 251 pay-per-view from Abu Dhabi.
MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn broke the news late Friday night that welterweight contender Gilbert Burns had tested positive for the virus.
Burns had traveled from Florida to Las Vegas, which is one of four hub cities worldwide where fighters must go to be tested prior to travel to Abu Dhabi.
The site reported that Burns’ test came back positive as did the tests for his coaches Vagner Rocha, and coach Greg Jones. (CORRECTION: It was initially reported that Burns’ younger brother Herbert Burns had tested positive but he tested negative for the virus.)
It is believed that the fight will be rescheduled for a later date with MMA Junkie’s John Morgan reporting that Kamaru Usman did not board the plane heading to Abu Dhabi.
The card has two other title fights booked as Alexander Volkanovski is scheduled to defend the UFC featherweight against former champion Max Holloway, and Petr Yan meeting Jose Aldo for the vacant UFC bantamweight title. The main card includes a rematch between Rose Namajunas and Jessica Andrade, and Paige VanZant fighting Amanda Ribas.
UFC 251 takes place next Saturday, July 11th on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi and is the first of four cards this month on the island followed by Fight Night cards on July 15th, July 18th, and July 25th.
