Friday’s ONE Championship event, ONE 157, has lost a key mixed martial arts contest.
On Thursday, ONE officials announced on social media that the heavyweight bout between Marcus Almeida (a.k.a. Marcus Buchecha) and Hugo Cunha had been scrapped. Cunha himself had been a replacement for Oumar “Reug Reug” Kane, who had been booked to face Buchecha last month.
A COVID-19 positive test by Cunha appears to be the culprit. The fight is listed as postponed, and is expected to take place at a later date.
Interestingly, an additional report by MMA Fighting states that Cunha’s positive test came weeks ago, and that a replacement fighter had been sought. However, the unnamed replacement also tested positive for COVID-19.
ONE 157 is headlined by a pair of Muay Thai title fights. In the main event, Petchmorakot Petchyindee looks to defend his featherweight title against Jimmy Vienot of France, while strawweight champ Prajanchai PK.Saenchai faces Joseph Lasiri in the co-feature.
A couple of submission grappling matches also feature, as Garry Tonon faces Tye Ruotolo, while Shinya Aoki faces Tye’s brother Kade Ruotolo. Fight fans will have to look to the lead card for MMA action; there, Asha Roka looks to get back in the win column against atomweight grand prix competitor Alyse Anderson.
The card takes place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Friday, May 20, 2022.
