Figueiredo was supposed to travel from Sao Paulo, Brazil, to Abu Dhabi on Friday night, however he will not be on that flight due to the fact that of the positive test. The UFC could tab one of them as a replacement if Figueiredo cant make the trip. Figueiredo (18-1) and Benavidez (28-6) have already battled when this year, a bout Figueiredo won by second-round TKO on Feb. 29. That bout would have been for the uninhabited flyweight title (like this one is), however Figueiredo missed out on weight by 2.5 pounds, making him ineligible to win the bout.
A UFC Fight Island title bout is in jeopardy.
Deiveson Figueiredo, a top UFC flyweight contender, evaluated favorable for the coronavirus Friday in Brazil, his manager, Wallid Ismail, confirmed to ESPN Brazil. Figueiredo is arranged to combat Joseph Benavidez for the uninhabited flyweight title in the primary event of UFC Fight Night on July 18 on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The bout is not officially off, according to Ismail. The supervisor told ESPNs Ariel Helwani that Figueiredo will be administered a second COVID-19 test Saturday early morning and his group is positive that the first one was a false favorable. The results ought to be back by Sunday.
Ismail stated Figueiredo already had the coronavirus in May in the middle of the pandemic and does not think he contracted it again.
” Deiveson checked favorable two months back,” Ismail informed ESPN Brazil. Were waiting the 2nd test to prove that hes clear and can fly generally to combat.”
Figueiredo was supposed to take a trip from Sao Paulo, Brazil, to Abu Dhabi on Friday night, but he will not be on that flight due to the fact that of the favorable test. The UFC is chartering all Brazil-based fighters from Sao Paulo to Yas Island this month for its “Fight Island” bouts. The flight leaving Friday is the final one from Brazil for the month. Ismail told Helwani that if Figueiredos second COVID-19 results come back unfavorable, he could possibly get on a flight Sunday night.
Benavidez and the other U.S.-based fighters on the July 18 event are flying from Las Vegas to Abu Dhabi on Friday night.
The UFC did not react to a request for talk about the matter Friday night.
The UFC might tab one of them as a replacement if Figueiredo cant make the journey. Figueiredo is No. 2 at flyweight, while Benavidez is No. 3.
Figueiredo (18-1) and Benavidez (28-6) have currently combated when this year, a bout Figueiredo won by second-round TKO on Feb. 29. That bout would have been for the vacant flyweight title (like this one is), but Figueiredo missed out on weight by 2.5 pounds, making him ineligible to win the bout. Due to that situation, the UFC decided to reserve the rematch.
ESPNs Brett Okamoto contributed to this report.
