UFC on ESPN 19 loses three fights hours before event starts after positive COVID-19 tests

Another week, another UFC event, another week of the coronavirus wreaking havoc on a UFC event.

Another week, another UFC event, another week of the coronavirus wreaking havoc on a UFC event.

Just hours before UFC on ESPN 19 was set to kick off Saturday night, the promotion announced the cancellation of three bouts: [autotag]Montana De La Rosa[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Taila Santos[/autotag], [autotag]Movsar Evloev[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Nate Landwehr[/autotag], and [autotag]Jimmy Flick[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Cody Durden[/autotag].

The UFC confirmed that De La Rosa vs. Santos and Evloev vs. Landwehr were scrapped because of positive COVID-19 tests, while Durden was forced to withdraw because of a “non-COVID related medical issue.”

According to MMA Fighting, one of De La Rosa’s cornermen tested positive for COVID-19. According to Combate, Evloev tested positive for COVID-19.

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UFC on ESPN 19 will proceed with eights from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The updated lineup is below:

MAIN CARD (ESPN2/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Jack Hermansson vs. Marvin Vettori
  • Jamahal Hill vs. Ovince Saint Preux
  • Gabriel Benitez vs. Justin Jaynes (156)
  • John Allan vs. Roman Dolidze
  • Jordan Leavitt vs. Matt Wiman

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN2/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Jose Quinonez vs. Louis Smolka
  • Damon Jackson vs. Ilia Topuria
  • Jake Collier vs. Gian Villante

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