Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
It’s another spanner in the works for Nicco Montano, as she is out of her September 5th fight with Julia Avila.
Nicco Montano will have to wait even longer to avenge her loss against Julia Avila, as their fight has been rescheduled for the second time. Montano has tested positive for COVID-19, and she becomes yet another member of Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas announced to have tested positive for the coronavirus.
MMA Fighting first reported the news. Montano was originally scheduled to face Avila at UFC Vegas 6 on August 8th, but her head coach John Wood tested positive for the virus meaning the fight was rebooked for September 5th.
Avila (8-1) made her debut in the UFC after picking up wins in Invicta FC and Oklahoma based promotion HD MMA. After a unanimous decision win against Pannie Kianzad in her debut, “Raging Panda” defeated Gina Mazany this June by knockout in just 22-seconds at UFC Vegas 2.
An MCL injury, problematic weight cut and a six-month USADA suspension has meant Montano (4-3) has fought just twice in three years for the UFC. The 31-year-old defeated Roxanne Modafferi to become the inaugural UFC women’s flyweight champion in 2017, and then lost a unanimous decision to Juliana Pena in July of last year. Montano lost to Avila by decision in a fight for HD MMA back in January 2017.
A women’s bantamweight fight between former champion Holly Holm and Irene Aldana will headline the October 3rd card that is currently without a location to its name.