Ramiz Brahimaj Off UFC on ESPN 12, Jason Witt Steps Up

UFC FIght Night - Saddledome in Calgary, AB
UFC Fight Night Credit: Jay Anderson/Cageside Press

Another short-notice change has hit the UFC on ESPN 12 card.

On Thursday, UFC officials announced that promotional newcomer Ramiz Brahimaj had been forced off the card, following a positive COVID-19 test from one of his cornermen.

“Due to a positive COVID-19 test result from one of his cornermen, Ramiz Brahimaj has been removed from his bout against Takashi Sato,” the promotion revealed on its official website.

The UFC aso announced who would be stepping in against Sato. “Replacing Brahimaj will be UFC newcomer Jason Witt, pending medical clearance including a COVID-19 test. As a result, the commission has agreed to weigh in Witt separately and he will not participate in tomorrow’s official weigh-ins and faceoffs.”

Witt (17-5) has won four straight bouts since 2018, including one under the LFA banner. He last fought February.

Brahimaj is the second fighter out of their bout this week. Earlier, Miranda Maverick announced that she’d been forced off the card after the discovery of a previously undetected injury during her medicals. No replacement appears to have been found for opponent Mara Romero Borella.

UFC on ESPN 12 takes place this Saturday, June 27 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, NV. The card is headlined by lightweights Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker.