The UFC at ESPN 15’s co-main event is off.
After a positive COVID-19 test, Ovince Saint Preux was removed from his UFC on ESPN 15 co-main event fight against Alonzo Menifield, confirmed MMA Junkie with a person familiar with the situation.
The light heavyweight fight will shift Sept. 5 and Saturday’s card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas will continue with nine fights.
According to his manager Oren Hodak, Saint Preux (24-14 MMA, 12-9 UFC) had previously tested positive for COVID-19, but has since tested negative. Arriving in Las Vegas for the UFC on ESPN 15, Saint Preux tested both positive and negative this week. Out of precaution, the promotion decided to remove his fight against Menifield (9-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) from the event and schedule it for a later date.
Hodak posted the following statement hours before the UFC at the start of ESPN 15 (via Twitter):
With the removal, the current UFC on ESPN 15 lineup includes:
Pedro Munhoz vs. Frankie Edgar Marcin Prachnio Vs. Mike Rodriguez Vs. Mariya Agapova Vs. Shana Dobson Dwight Grant Vs. Daniel Rodriguez Mizuki Inoue vs. Amanda Lemos Austin Hubbard vs. Joe Solecki vs. Ike Villanueva Jordan Wright Carlton Minus Vs. Matthew Semelsberger Trevin Jones vs. Timur Valiev
.
