Report: Blaydes tests positive for COVID-19, fight against Lewis canceled
Curtis Blaydes tested positive for COVID-19 and his UFC Fight Night main event against Derrick Lewis has been removed from Saturday's card, sources told ESPN's Ariel Helwani.
The UFC will look to reschedule the heavyweight tilt for December, Helwani adds.
Blaydes and Lewis, the second- and fourth-ranked heavyweight contenders, respectively, were set to headline the event in Las Vegas at the UFC Apex. Anthony Smith and Devin Clark will move atop the card and become a five-round main event, according to Brett Okamoto of ESPN.
Blaydes was preparing to fight Lewis thinking a win would earn him a title shot. The 29-year-old owns a 14-2 record with one no-contest, and Francis Ngannou has supplied both losses. Ngannou is next in line to fight champion Stipe Miocic.
Lewis, 35, is a former title challenger and has won three straight bouts.