A positive COVID-19 test has forced Aiemann Zahabi out of UFC Vegas 17.
Zahabi was scheduled to fight Drako Rodriguez in a bantamweight bout on Saturday at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. But on Thursday, he announced via social media his withdrawal from the card.
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. Wishing you all love and safety during this pandemic. pic.twitter.com/g7YSELZYuH
— Aiemann Zahabi (@Aiemannzahabi) December 17, 2020
“For my pre-flight COVID-19 test I ended up getting a positive result, and I ended up getting sick for a couple of days, so I was not able to fly out to Las Vegas to compete this Saturday,” Zahabi said in a recorded message.
The 33-year-old Canadian wrote in the accompanying caption that his COVID-19 symptoms have not been “too bad so far.”
Per a UFC official, a replacement opponent will not be available for Rodriguez, leaving UFC Vegas 17 with 13 fights.
See the updated card below:
Stephen Thompson vs. Geoff Neal
Khaos Williams vs. Michel Pereira
Gillian Robertson vs. Taila Santos
Anthony Pettis vs. Alex Morono
Sijara Eubanks vs. Pannie Kianzad
Karl Roberson vs. Dalcha Lungiambula