UFC Vegas 33 needs a new co-main event just hours before the card is slated to begin.
Rani Yahya revealed on Instagram that he tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of his scheduled bout against Kyung Ho Kang on Saturday night.
“Hey guys, my fight just got cancelled,” Yahya wrote on his social media account. “I tested positive for the COVID-19 test that was made yesterday. I feel very good physically, and I believe that everything happens for a reason. Thank you all for the support!!”
With a 4-1-1 record in his past six fights, Yahya was looking to build on his last win over Ray Rodriguez while competing in a marquee spot as the co-main event for the card being held at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas.
Unfortunately with the positive COVID-19 test, the Brazilian submission specialist will no longer be competing and with only hours remaining until the show, Kang will obviously not receive a replacement opponent.
This is just the latest setback for an already beleaguered card that has suffered several losses over the past few days including former flyweight champion Nicco Montano being removed from the event after she missed weight as well as another weight related incident forcing Ronnie Lawrence off the card as well.
At the start of the week, there were 15 fights scheduled at UFC Vegas 33 but now as the event prepares to kick off with the prelims at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT there are a total of 10 fights scheduled on Saturday night.