Veta Arteaga, Nick Newell scratched from Thursday’s Bellator 250

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – On the day of the show, Bellator 250 has lost two fights, including one from the main card.

Veta Arteaga (5-4 MMA, 4-4 BMMA) is out of her women’s flyweight fight to open the main card against Desiree Yanez (5-2 MMA, 0-0 BMMA). And Nick Newell (16-3 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) is out of his lightweight fight against Zach Zane (14-9 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) on the preliminary card. Both fights have been scratched from the lineup.

A Bellator official on Thursday confirmed the fights’ removal to MMA Junkie, saying Arteaga and Newell “couldn’t receive clearance” from the Mohegan Tribe commission overseeing the event at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

Yanez first announced the scratching of her fight with Arteaga on Instagram and said Arteaga tested positive for COVID-19.

View this post on Instagram

*sigh* well guys… my fight is unfortunately cancelled tonight due to my opponent getting tested positive for Covid. I really don’t know what to say other than I was more than ready for battle and still am. @bellatormma is going to get this match up back as soon as they possibly can. I am beyond devastated, but everything happens for a reason. More time to prepare. I love you all and the support has been so unreal to me. Don’t worry, the fight will happen soon enough. and luckily for me, @bellatormma is stuck with me for a good while . — to my sponsors, I will be honoring you guys for whenever we get this match up going again. I love y’all and couldn’t do this without all. — I love all my fans, my coaches, my managers, and my teammates for constantly sticking by my side! My time is coming. I just know it.

A post shared by Desiree “Dirty Dez” Yanez (@dirtydezmma) on Oct 29, 2020 at 7:21am PDT

Both Arteaga and Newell weighed in Wednesday. Arteaga was 0.2 pounds overweight at 126.2.

A middleweight bout between Ty Gwerder (5-1 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) and Dalton Rosta (3-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) has been elevated from the prelims to open the main card, a promotion official told MMA Junkie.

Bellator 250 takes place Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on CBS Sports Network following prelims on MMA Junkie.