COVID Torches Two Bouts At UFC 260

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will once again send the UFC 260 fight card into the shop for repairs, now that COVID-19 has upended a pair of preliminary card matchups set for ESPN this Sat. night (March 27, 2021) inside APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.

One fixed, one scratched thanks to COVID-19.

Light heavyweight bruiser William Knight has been pulled from his Alonzo Menifield showdown and replaced by LFA light heavyweight champion Fabio Cherant, who will be making his Octagon debut. “Knightmare” has been rebooked against Da Un Jung for UFC on ABC 2 on April 10.

This marks the second time UFC tried (and failed) to complete the booking.

Further down the card, strawweight sophomore Hannah Goldy was bounced from her Jessica Penne fight after testing positive for coronavirus. Unlike Menifield, Penne won’t get a late replacement and will instead follow the 28 year-old “Queen of Sparta” to the promotion’s April 17 card.

“Life is crazy man,” Goldy wrote on Instagram. “I literally can’t even believe I have to tell y’all that I won’t be fighting this Saturday. Flew out to Vegas and tested positive for COVID. I have never felt better, stronger or more complete. I was so ready to perform for y’all Saturday, unfortunately that was not God’s plan. I’ll be taking the necessary precautions and rescheduled as soon as I am healthy!”

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski was previously pulled from the card.

UFC 260 will feature the heavyweight rematch between reigning 265-pound champion Stipe Miocic and division knockout artist Francis Ngannou. The UFC 260 co-headliner pits former welterweight titleholder Tyron Woodley against streaking 170-pound contender Vicente Luque.

For the rest of the UFC 260 fight card and PPV lineup click here.