UFC Fight Island 7 is down one fight after flyweight Jordan Espinosa tested positive for COVID-19, and his fight with Tim Elliott has now been rescheduled to UFC 259.
Multiple people with knowledge of the shift confirmed the news to MMA Fighting after an initial report from MMA Island. UFC Fight Island 7 takes place Jan. 16 on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi and current is expected to feature 13 bouts. UFC 259 is scheduled for March 6 at a location to be determined.
Espinosa is three months removed from his most recent octagon appearance, which came at UFC Vegas 11 and ended in a decision loss to David Dvorak. The Contender Series vet is 2-3 in his past five UFC outings.
One-time title challenger Elliott in July snapped a three-fight streak that included a submission loss to current champ Deiveson Figueiredo. He outpointed vet Ryan Benoit at UFC Fight Island to get back in the win column.
UFC Fight Island 7 is the promotion’s first event of 2021 and kicks off a series of fight cards on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.