Viviane Araujo is the latest UFC fighter to catch COVID-19.
Araujo is out of her women’s flyweight bout against Jennifer Maia, which was set for UFC on ESPN+ 31, after testing positive for coronavirus in the pre-fight screenings leading up to the Aug. 1 event in Las Vegas. The news was first reported by MMA Fighting and subsequently confirmed by MMA Junkie, who received an update from Araujo on her condition.
“Unfortunately this week I tested positive for COVID-19. I don’t know how I caught it,” Araujo told MMA Junkie on Monday. “I was taking all precautions and training with only two fighters. They tested negative. Only I tested positive. That’s it. I was very sad that the fight was canceled and also worried for my health. Here in Brazil, the contamination rate is very high. Despite all precautions, I caught it. I am feeling mostly OK with only mild cold symptoms. My doctors are keeping an eye on me. The goal is to recover so I can book my next fight.”
Araujo (8-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) is coming off a decision loss to former UFC title challenger Jessica Eye in December at UFC 245. Prior to that, the Brazilian had picked up wins over veterans Talita Bernardo and Alexis Davis to kick off her UFC tenure.
Meanwhile, Maia (17-6 MMA, 2-2 UFC) also looked to bounce back from defeat after dropping a decision loss to Katlyn Chookagian in November. Combate reports that Joanne Calderwood is expected to fill in for Araujo. Maia told MMA Junkie on Monday that she was offered Calderwood and accepted, but she couldn’t say the same for Calderwood, who previously had been tabbed to challenge Valentina Shevchenko until injury forced the 125-pound champion out of their matchup.
UFC on ESPN+ 31 is headlined by a women’s bantamweight bout between Holly Holm and Irene Aldana.
Viviane Araujo stunned by positive COVID-19 test: 'Despite all precautions, I caught it'