Yahoo Lifestyle Ovince Saint Preux vs. Alonzo Menifield off UFC Fight Night card after COVID-19 positive
The co-main event has been removed from the UFC on ESPN 15 card after a fighter tested positive for COVID-19.
Ovince Saint Preux tested positive for the virus and will no longer fight Alonzo Menifield in Las Vegas on Saturday night, UFC confirmed to MMA Fighting. His manager confirmed the positive test hours before the fight was set to take place, per MMA Fighting.
UFC officials have now confirmed the OSP vs. Menifield fight has been scrapped. It will be rescheduled at a later date.
New start time for the prelims will be 6:30 p.m. ET https://t.co/nAXwY58rA5— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) August 22, 2020
Saint Preux tests positive and negative during week
Saint Preux tested positive and negative for the virus this week, per KOReps. A positive test on Saturday is what eliminated him from being able to compete.
He is feeling “100 percent,” his team told MMA Fighting. They reportedly offered to pay for a rapid COVID test to prove he was able to compete but the UFC decided to postpone.
UFC said in a statement to MMA Fighting:
“Due to a positive COVID-19 test, Ovince Saint Preux’s light heavyweight bout against Alonzo Menifield has been removed from tonight’s card and will be rescheduled at a later date.”
The prelims will move up to 6:30 p.m. ET, per MMA Fighting.
Nine bouts remain on card
The UFC on ESPN 15 card is headlined by former UFC lightweight champion and featherweight challenger Frankie Edgar taking on Pedro Munhoz at bantamweight. Munhoz is ranked fifth in the UFC’s bantamweight rankings.
The card has had a few changes already. It was rumored that Tyron Woodley and Colby Covington would headline the card. Shamil Gamzatov was set to face Saint Preux, but pulled out of the fight early on, via MMA Mania. Yoel Romero and Uriah Hall were also supposed to be on the card as co-headliners.
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