Alexander Romanov is the latest fighter to be held back from going to Fight Island for UFC 251 on Saturday night due to testing positive for coronavirus.
Romanov had been due to makes his UFC debut against Marcin Tybura in the prelims of the card, but his camp have now revealed that he was pulled from the line-up following a positive test on July 1st and as such never boarded a plane to Yas Island.
In addition to Romanov it was also revealed that his coaches had also tested positive for the virus.
“Dear friends, we were all looking forward to Alexander Romanov’s debut in UFC, which was to take place this Saturday, July 11, 2020,” a statement from his gym, Lion Comrat reads. ” Unfortunately, he and his team tested POSITIVE for Covid-19 on the 1st of July 2020 and even if the repeated test, done on the 3rd of July 2020 came back NEGATIVE, indicating only the presence of antibodies in one of the coaches’ system, Alexander Romanov has already been removed from the fight card, just as other four other foreign fighters who were going to fight Saturday at UFC 251. Alexander feels great, he trains in isolation and looks forward to his next fight in UFC. We wish him success and good health!”
Romanov was looking to make an impression in the Octagon after compiling an 11-0 start to his fight career on the regional circuit, but will now be replaced by another newcomer, Maxim Grishin, who arrives from the PFL promotion.
