Deiveson Figueiredo is back on track for Fight Island.
Figueiredo (18-1) was grounded, stopped from boarding a flight to Abu Dhabi following a positive COVID-19 test. The Brazilian was expected to meet Joseph Benavidez this coming weekend, in a rematch of their UFC Norfolk fight in February. Figueiredo had won that fight, via knockout, but did not claim the vacant bantamweight title after missing weight.
The rematch headlines the UFC Fight Night 172 (UFC Fight Island 2) card. However, the COVID-19 positive left the fight in limbo.
On Sunday, Figueiredo’s manager Walid Ismail confirmed that the test failure appeared to be a false positive. Figueiredo has antibodies of the virus, meaning he had it in the past, but is not currently infected or contagious.
Thanks @ufc For the great work to clarified the misunderstand👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙈 https://t.co/od4Zbd3HGr
— Wallid Ismail (@WallidJfc) July 12, 2020
Per a report by MMA Fighting, Figueiredo has been cleared to travel to Abu Dhabi. However, he’ll still be expected to pass several more tests for the virus. “Fight Island” has instituted strict health and safety protocols for the UFC events this month, including multiple COVID-19 tests, quarantines, and a 11KM safe zone the keep unauthorized personnel from importing cases of the virus.
According to that same report, should Figueiredo not be cleared to fight, Benavidez will still compete for the UFC’s flyweight title on Saturday — against Alexandre Pantoja.
