Pedro Munhoz is the latest UFC athlete to test positive for COVID-19 as his bantamweight matchup with Frankie Edgar set for July 15th has been cancelled.
ESPN’s Ariel Helwani reported that the matchup was called off due to Munhoz’s positive test. The matchup would have been Edgar’s first as a bantamweight in the UFC. Edgar just re-upped with the UFC signing a new deal with the promotion. The UFC is still looking for possible substitute for Edgar.
This is the second fight that had to be cancelled for Fight Island due to an athlete testing positive. Gilbert Burns had to withdraw from his main event title fight against Kamaru Usman this Saturday. Also the Marina Rodriguez-Carla Esparza fight was removed from the July 15th Fight Island card due to one of the corner people for Rodriguez testing positive.
Payout Perspective:
UFC COO Lawrence Epstein discussed with the Sports Business Journal about the company’s protocol and its plan on how to address positive tests. Thus far, it has been flexible in changing protocol and Fight Island has seen the most stringent testing and quarantine thus far since the UFC returned. Unfortunately for Munhoz, he will have to await a matchup with Edgar but hopefully the former lightweight champ can find a fight for July 15.
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