UFC on ESPN 19 loses three fights hours before event starts after positive COVID-19 tests
Another week, another UFC event, another week of the coronavirus wreaking havoc on a UFC event.
Just hours before UFC on ESPN 19 was set to kick off Saturday night, the promotion announced the cancellation of three bouts: Montana De La Rosa vs. Taila Santos, Movsar Evloev vs. Nate Landwehr, and Jimmy Flick vs. Cody Durden.
The UFC confirmed that De La Rosa vs. Santos and Evloev vs. Landwehr were scrapped because of positive COVID-19 tests, while Durden was forced to withdraw because of a “non-COVID related medical issue.”
According to MMA Fighting, one of De La Rosa’s cornermen tested positive for COVID-19. According to Combate, Evloev tested positive for COVID-19.
UFC on ESPN 19 will proceed with eights from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The updated lineup is below:
MAIN CARD (ESPN2/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET)
- Jack Hermansson vs. Marvin Vettori
- Jamahal Hill vs. Ovince Saint Preux
- Gabriel Benitez vs. Justin Jaynes (156)
- John Allan vs. Roman Dolidze
- Jordan Leavitt vs. Matt Wiman
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN2/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)
- Jose Quinonez vs. Louis Smolka
- Damon Jackson vs. Ilia Topuria
- Jake Collier vs. Gian Villante