Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Heinisch tested positive for COVID-19.
One of the better fights on the UFC Vegas 13 card is now off the slate.
Middleweight prospect Brendan Allen revealed on social media that his opponent, Ian Heinisch, tested positive for COVID-19 and the bout has obviously been cancelled. Allen added that he hopes to have the fight rescheduled for 2021.
Allen (15-3) is 3-0 in the UFC and coming off a grueling win over Kyle Daukaus. He’s also the last person to beat fellow rising contender Kevin Holland, who tapped to his rear-naked choke back in October 2019. Heinisch (14-3) recently stopped Gerald Meerschaert in June, snapping a two-fight losing skid. He was initially pulled from that card when a cornerman tested positive for COVID-19, only to be reinserted into the lineup when it was revealed to be a false positive.
This is the second time that this matchup has been nixed. Their original booking in the summer was scratched after Heinisch withdrew due to injury.
UFC Vegas 13 will proceed with just 10 fights. Giga Chikadze vs. Jamey Simmons has been promoted from the prelims to the main card, which is headlined by a light heavyweight bout between former title challengers Glover Teixeira and Thiago Santos.