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The best options to replace Gilbert burns in UFC 251
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The Fight Island era of UFC events has gotten off to a rocky start as Gilbert Burns has tested positive for COVID-19 and is out of his planned UFC 251 main event with Kamaru Usman, the UFC Hall of Famer. and CBS Sports headquarters analyst Rashad Evans has confirmed. The news comes just a week before the fighters faced off in a main event clash for Usman’s UFC welterweight championship.
According to ESPN, the featherweight championship rematch between champion Alexander Volkanovski and former starter Max Holloway, originally slated to co-headline, will serve as the new main event for UFC 251 on Saturday, July 11.
Burns had become something of a poster for the UFC COVID era, emerging victorious in bouts against Demian Maia and former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley to earn his shot at Usman and the UFC 251 welterweight title. They are lifelong teammates, but when the Financial Negotiations broke down between the UFC and Jorge Masvidal, Burns received the call for a third fight over a period of five months.
After a training camp in Florida, Burns and his camp flew to Las Vegas, one of the four “core cities” from which the fighters will fly to Abu Dhabi for the four events over what the UFC has called “Fight Island.” Upon arrival in Las Vegas, Burns, his brother Herbert and one of his trainers tested positive for the virus.
When Burns was pulled from the event, Usman also did not board his flight to Abu Dhabi with uncertainty over whether the fight will be rescheduled or whether the UFC would manage to lure a replacement opponent to compete for the welterweight championship.
For now, with little time to spare, reprogramming can be an option on the table with two big names offering their services. Jorge Masvidal’s manager revealed to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani that the current “BMF” champion is ready to accept the shot against Usman for the welterweight title a week in advance. Meanwhile, former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington, who lost to Usman in a main event classic at UFC 245 last December, said he’s willing to go to Abu Dhabi next week for a rematch with Usman or a tan long-awaited grudge fight with Masvidal
