Alex Volkanovski Confirms Positive COVID Test, Brian Ortega Issues Statement
Alex Volkanovski confirms he has tested positive for COVID-19 and will no longer fight Brian Ortega at UFC 260.
Volkanovski confirmed the announcement made by UFC commentator Brian Fitzgerald at UFC Vegas 22.
“So devastated to share that I’ve tested positive for COVID and my fight is off and will be rescheduled. I tested negative leaving Australia, negative before entering the UFC bubble but my latest test was positive. We have worked so hard getting ready for this fight and I’m absolutely gutted this has happened. We followed every policy and process to remain covid free but it wasn’t meant to be this time. Thanks to everyone here in the States for your support since arriving and everyone back home and around the world for your positive messages,” Volkanovski wrote in a statement on Twitter. “To my fans, I’m certain I’ll be bouncing back stronger than ever before.”
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) March 21, 2021
Ortega released his own statement in an Instagram video. “T-City” wished his opponent good health.
“So you guys all heard, I don’t have to tell you anymore. But, Volkanovski tested positive for COVID. He’s done everything right. We’ve done everything right. I know you [Alex Volkanovski] would have taken the fight, even with COVID,” Ortega said. (h/t BJ Penn). “That’s the type of human you are. I respect that. I hope you get better. I hope you heal up fast and we’ll postpone it and we will just reschedule it to when we’ve got to. Stay sharp. We’re staying sharp and whenever this shit is meant to happen it will happen.”
UFC 260 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, March 27. The pay-per-view card is headlined by a UFC heavyweight title rematch between Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou. Keep up with Fightful for all your event-related coverage.
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