Deiveson Figueiredo, who is scheduled to fight Joseph Benavidez for the vacant flyweight title July 18, has tested positive for COVID-19, per ESPN's Marc Raimondi.<\/p>\n
Figueiredo's manager,Wallid Ismail, confirmed the news to Raimondi and also said the fight is not officially off. The fighter's team believes the test was a false positive, and he will be undergoing another test Saturday.<\/p>\n
Figueiredo previously tested positive for COVID-19 in May.<\/p>\n
Per Raimondi, ifFigueiredo isn't cleared to fight, then eitherAlexandre Pantoja or Askar Askarov could step in as a replacement. The two featherweights are scheduled to fight each other July 18 as well.<\/p>\n
Pantoja is the No. 4 flyweight on UFC's rankings, andAskarov is No. 7. MMA Junkiefurther reported that Pantoja would in fact be the replacement pick.<\/p>\n
Figueiredo vs. Benavidez is slated to headline an event on UFC's Fight Island, which is located in Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.<\/p>\n
Multiple fighters have had to pull out of events due to positive COVID-19 test results, with welterweight Gilbert Burns notably doing so prior to his scheduled bout with Kamaru Usman for the title belt. <\/p>\n
Jorge Masvidal is taking his place for the fight, which will headline UFC 251 on Fight Island on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The UFC has still been able to hold events consistently since May, however, with events occurring in Jacksonville (Florida), Las Vegas and now Yas Island.<\/p>\n
IfFigueiredo vs.Benavidez stays on the card, then it will be a rematch of their Feb. 29 bout, whichFigueiredo won by second-round TKO. That fight was also for the vacant flyweight title, but becauseFigueiredo missed weight before the event, he was ineligible to win the belt.<\/p>\n
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More here: <\/p>\n
Deiveson Figueiredo Tests Positive for COVID-19 Ahead of UFC Fight Island Event - Bleacher Report<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Deiveson Figueiredo, who is scheduled to fight Joseph Benavidez for the vacant flyweight title July 18, has tested positive for COVID-19, per ESPN's Marc Raimondi. Figueiredo's manager,Wallid Ismail, confirmed the news to Raimondi and also said the fight is not officially off Continue reading