Nunes was scheduled to defend her women’s bantamweight title vs. Julianna Pena.
Next week’s UFC 265 pay-per-view has lost its co-main event.
Two-division champion Amanda Nunes has tested positive for COVID-19, which obviously means she’ll be unable to defend her women’s bantamweight belt against Julianna Pena. The UFC’s chief business officer Hunter Campbell told ESPN that the plan is to reschedule Nunes vs. Pena when Amanda has recovered and is ready to compete.
Unfortunately, Nunes’ partner Nina Ansaroff told MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn that she and their infant daughter Reagan have also tested positive, underscoring just how contagious this virus is.
Nunes (21-4) last fought in March when she swiftly submitted Megan Anderson to retain her women’s featherweight belt in the UFC 259 co-main event. Her last title defense at 135 lbs came against Germaine de Randamie in December 2019, when she won by unanimous decision.
Pena (10-4) bounced back from her surprise submission loss to de Randamie by choking out Sara McMann at UFC 257 in January. She was targeted to face Holly Holm in May before Holm withdrew from the matchup, paving the way for Pena to get her first title shot, which will now have to wait a bit longer.
UFC 265 takes place at the Toyota Center on August 7th and is headlined by an interim heavyweight title fight between Derrick Lewis and Ciryl Gane.