Barring an unforeseen circumstance, Alonzo Menifield vs. Ovince Saint Preux will happen this Saturday – two weeks after it was originally set to take place.
The fight was booked for Aug. 22. However, Saint Preux tested positive for COVID-19 and was subsequently removed from the card. The same day, it was immediately rescheduled for UFC on ESPN+ 34.
“We just rescheduled on that Saturday, after COVID got in the way,” Menifield said at a virtual pre-fight news conference held Thursday. “Yeah, now we’re here. … That Saturday when I got the news, I was like, ‘Oh man. This is terrible.’ I quickly got over it because we rescheduled and I was happy – and here we are.”
Despite his opponent testing positive so recently, Menifield (9-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) isn’t bothered by the prospect of fighting Saint Preux (24-14 MMA, 12-9 UFC). As far as Menifield is concerned, the virus is on its way out.
“No, he had (COVID-19) in early July, so it’s cycling out of him,” Menifield said. “It’s not (a problem).”
UFC on ESPN+ 34 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The entire event streams on ESPN+.
Check out Menifield’s full UFC on ESPN+ 34 virtual media day in the video above.
UFC on ESPN+ 34’s Alonzo Menifield discusses cancellation, rebooking Ovince Saint Preux fight
