Leon Edwards Tests Positive For COVID-19, Out of December 19th UFC Main Event Against Khamzat Chimaev

Leon Edwards has been taken out of a December 19th UFC main event against Khamzat Chimaev following a positive COVID-19 test. The cancelled fight could potentially be moved to 2021, per Ariel Helwani of ESPN, who broke the news on Tuesday.

The welterweight fight was scheduled to headline a card from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Per the report, Edwards is currently recovering from the virus.

Edwards was looking to have his first fight of 2020 on the card. Currently on an eight-fight win streak, Edwards had a fight in March against Tyron Woodley cancelled due to COVID-19 forcing UFC to stop events for a period of time.

Chimaev was looking to close out his strong 2020 with his fourth win of the year. After getting two wins in July, Chimaev had a quick victory in September, stopping Gerald Meerschaert in only 17 seconds via knockout.

The cancelled main event follows a trend of COVID-19 interfering in major UFC fights.

Last weekend’s UFC “Fight Night” card saw a short-notice change, as a positive COVID-19 test took Curtis Blaydes out of the main event against Derrick Lewis.

The upcoming December 5th card lost a main event recently as Kevin Holland tested positive for COVID-19.

COVID-19 has affected the promotion since their reboot in May. UFC 249, UFC’s first event back from COVID-19, saw a fight between Jacare Souza and Uriah Hall cancelled after a positive test.

Without the main event, here is how UFC’s December 19th card looks.

Bout 14: Stephen Thompson (15-4-1) vs. Geoff Neal (13-2) (Welterweight)

Bout 13: Marcin Tybura (20-6) vs. Greg Hardy (7-2) (Heavyweight)

Bout 12: Marlon Moraes (23-7-1) vs. Rob Font (17-4) (Bantamweight)

Bout 11: Misha Cirkunov (15-5) vs. Ryan Spann (18-6) (Light Heavyweight)

Bout 10: Jose Aldo (28-7) vs. Marlon Vera (18-6-1) (Bantamweight)

Bout 9: Michel Pereira (24-11) vs. Khaos Williams (11-1) (Welterweight)

Bout 8: Alexandre Pantoja (22-5) vs. Manel Kape (15-4) (Flyweight)

Bout 7: Belal Muhammad (17-3) vs. Dhiego Lima (15-7) (Welterweight)

Bout 6: Deron Winn (6-2) vs. Antonio Braga Neto (9-3) (Middleweight)

Bout 5: Pannie Kianzad (13-5) vs. Sijara Eubanks (6-5) (Bantamweight)

Bout 4: Tafon Nchukwi (4-0) vs. Jamie Pickett (11-4) (Middleweight)

Bout 3: Rick Glenn (21-6-1) vs. Carlton Minus (10-2) (Lightweight)

Bout 2: Matt Schnell (14-5) vs. Tyson Nam (20-11-1) (Flyweight)

Bout 1: Drako Rodriguez (7-1) vs. Aiemann Zahabi (7-2) (Bantamweight)