Yahoo Lifestyle UFC loses main event as Glover Teixeira tests positive for COVID-19
A positive test from Glover Teixeira has resulted in the cancellation of UFC’s main event of its Fight Night on Sept. 12, according to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani.
Teixeira, who was set to face Thiago Santos, reportedly found about the test on Wednesday morning, and is feeling 100 percent. The new main event for Sept. 12 is yet to be determined.
Glover Teixeira tested positive for COVID-19, thus canceling the 9/12 main event against Thiago Santos, per sources. His team says he’s feeling “100%”. Found out this AM. TBD who will main event 9/12 now. First reported by @raphamarinho & @AnaHissa.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 3, 2020
Per Helwani, UFC plans to move the Teixeira-Santos bout to its event on Oct. 3 in Abu Dhabi. Oddly enough, the scheduled main event for that night is another main event that had to be rescheduled, Irene Aldana vs. Holly Holm.
Whenever the fight is held, it will likely hold significant implications for a light heavyweight class that recently saw champion Jon Jones vacate his belt.
Dominick Reyes is currently scheduled to face Jan Błachowicz on Sept. 26 for the vacant UFC light heavyweight title. Given that Teixeira is on a four-fight win streak and Santos lost his title fight against Jones only by split decision despite fighting four rounds with nearly every ligament in his knee torn, it seems quite likely their bout could determine the first challenger for UFC’s new light heavyweight champion.
Teixeira is coming off a win against Anthony Smith that was so one-sided that the veteran apologized to his opponent mid-fight.
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