Once again, a positive test result for COVID-19 has scrapped a highly anticipated fight between Thiago Santos and Glover Teixeira.
Last time out, it was Teixeira testing positive. Which resulted in the pair’s fight moving from September 12 to October 3. This time around, it’s Santos who has come up positive.
Brazil’s Combate was first to report the news on Tuesday.
The UFC has yet to issue a formal statement on the matter, and it remains to be seen whether they attempt to re-book the fight, or find another opponent for Teixeira. For the past month, the pair’s meeting has been looked at as a number one contender’s match. Especially with Dominick Reyes and Jan Blachowicz facing off for the vacant light heavyweight title shortly.
Teixeira is currently in the midst of a late-career resurgence. At age 40, Teixeira (31-7) absolutely dominated fellow former title challenger Anthony Smith in May, for his fourth straight victory.
Santos (21-7) has not fought since UFC 239, where he pushed Jon Jones to the brink. Despite that strong showing, however, Santos has not returned to the cage, thanks to a pile of knee injuries suffered during the bout.
Santos vs. Teixeira was expected to be the co-main event of the UFC’s October 3 card. The event is headlined by Holly Holm vs. Irene Aldana.
