Ian Heinisch vs. Gerald Meerschaert back on at UFC 250 after false positive COVID-19 test

Ian Heinisch vs. Gerald Meerschaert is back on for UFC 250.

The middleweight bout was temporarily called off after one of Heinisch’s cornermen tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of Saturday’s card. Anthony Ivy was pegged as a replacement to fight Meerschaert (31-12 MMA, 6-4 UFC).

However, further testing showed the initial test to be false – and Heinisch’s cornerman was cleared, people with the knowledge of the situation told MMA Junkie on Thursday. The fight was reinstated, as a result. Ivy is expected to remain on the UFC roster, as MMA Fighting first reported.

After winning his first two UFC bouts, the Dana White’s Contender Series alum Heinisch (13-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC) has dropped two in a row to Derek Brunson and Omari Akhmedov. He recently revealed he signed a new four-fight deal with the UFC.

Meerschaert has won two of of his most recent three bouts. A Roufusport product, Meerschaert most recently defeated Deron Winn at UFC 248 in March.

With the change, the UFC 250 lineup now includes:

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

• Champ Amanda Nunes vs. Felicia Spencer – for women’s featherweight title
• Raphael Assuncao vs. Cody Garbrandt
• Cory Sandhagen vs. Aljamain Sterling
• Neil Magny vs. Anthony Rocco Martin
• Sean O’Malley vs. Eddie Wineland

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

• Alex Caceres vs. Chase Hooper
• Anthony Ivy vs. Gerald Meerschaert
• Brian Kelleher vs. Cody Stamann
• Charles Byrd vs. Maki Pitolo

PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)

• Jussier Formiga vs. Alex Perez
• Devin Clark vs. Alonzo Menifield
• Herbert Burns vs. Evan Dunham