Another fight has fallen off Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 183 card due to a fighter testing positive for COVID-19.
This time, Canadian bantamweight Aiemann Zahabi tested positive for the virus in a pre-flight test before leaving for Las Vegas and is symptomatic. Zahabi announced the news in an Instagram video issued Thursday.
According to a person close to the situation, Zahabi’s scheduled opponent Drako Rodriguez will no longer compete on the card due to the lack of time to find a new opponent.
“It’s heartbreaking for me not to be there fight week in Vegas but thankfully my covid 19 symptoms haven’t been too bad so far,” Zahabi wrote in a caption along with the video. “Wishing you all love and safety during this pandemic.”
There are two other publicly known cases of COVID-19 that have canceled UFC Fight Night 183 fights. The original headliner, Leon Edwards vs. Khamzat Chimaev, was canceled after Edwards lost 12 pounds battling the virus. A welterweight fight between Belal Muhammad and Dhiego Lima was also called off after Muhammad tested positive.
UFC Fight Night 183 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.
With the change, the UFC Fight Night 183 lineup includes:
MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)
- Stephen Thompson vs. Geoff Neal
- Jose Aldo vs. Marlon Vera
- Michel Pereira vs. Khaos Williams
- Rob Font vs. Marlon Moraes
- Greg Hardy vs. Marcin Tybura
- Gillian Robertson vs. Taila Santos
- Alex Morono vs. Anthony Pettis
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)
- Sijara Eubanks vs. Pannie Kianzad
- Dalcha Lungiambula vs. Karl Roberson
- Antonio Arroyo vs. Deron Winn
- Tafon Nchukwi vs. Jamie Pickett
- Cody Durden vs. Jimmy Flick
- Christos Giagos vs. Carlton Minus