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Rafael Dos Anjos becomes the latest UFC fighter to test positive for the coronavirus.
Rafael Dos Anjos has tested positive for COVID-19 and is out of his UFC 254 fight with Islam Makachev later this month.
The former UFC lightweight champion revealed Thursday that he caught the virus “big time”. Dos Anjos’ fight with Makachev was scheduled to take place at UFC 254 on October 24th, it was the final fight on the Brazilian’s current UFC contract.
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) October 8, 2020
“Unfortunately I will not be able to compete on the 24th,” part of Dos Anjos’ statement read. “COVID-19 caught me big time and the doctors cut me out. But soon I will be back victorious inside the Octagon! Nothing can take away the blessing that is upon us. God will provide.”
It’s currently unclear whether the UFC will seek a replacement for Dos Anjos or pull Makachev from the event entirely. Dos Anjos was hoping to get back in the win column at UFC 254 after consecutive losses to Michael Chiesa and Leon Edwards at welterweight.
Makachev responded to the news by calling out the UFC’s newest signing, Michael Chandler, for a fight instead. Chandler is on standby in case Khabib Nurmagomedov or Justin Gaethje are forced to pull out of the main event of UFC 254.