Welterweight veteran Matt Brown is out of his UFC on ESPN 31 fight with Bryan Barberena after testing positive for COVID-19.
“The Immortal” himself announced the news on social media Tuesday.
Shitty day today I tested positive for covid so my fight next weekend is off
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) November 24, 2021
“Sh*tty day today I tested positive for covid so my fight next weekend is off,” Brown wrote on his official twitter account. In a follow-up tweet, Brown added that he had been feeling sick over the weekend, but was now on the mend.
“I was sick af over the weekend but feel better for the most part now. Lost smell today. Did a jog outside today and lungs burned some I thought maybe it was just the cold air but maybe I’m still sick,” he stated. “I’ll get over it quickly and go from there.”
Brown (23-18) last competed in June, knocking out Dhiego Lima to snap a two-fight losing streak. He’s 2-2 dating back to 2019, with only one of those bouts, a loss to Carlos Condit, going the distance.
Barberena (15-8) is 1-3 in his past four, and coming off a loss to Jason Witt at UFC Vegas 33 earlier this year. That bout wound up being a majority decision — and took home Fight of the Night honors.
No word as of yet as to whether the UFC will seek a replacement for Brown, or attempt to reschedule the fight at a later date. UFC on ESPN 31 takes place December 4, 2021 at the Apex in Las Vegas. The following bouts are currently expected for the Fight Night card:
Rob Font vs. Jose Aldo
Brad Riddell vs. Rafael Fiziev
Jimmy Crute vs. Jamahal Hill
Manel Kape vs. Zhalgas Zhumagulov
Jake Matthews vs. Jeremiah Wells
Chris Gruetzemacher vs. Claudio Puelles
Mallory Martin vs. Cheyanne Buys
Louis Smolka vs. Vince Morales
Clay Guida vs. Leonardo Santos
Alex Morono vs. Mickey Gall
Maki Pitolo vs. Dusko Todorovic
Philipe Lins vs. Azamat Murzakanov
William Knight vs. Alonzo Menifield
Brendan Allen vs. Chris Curtis
