UFC on ESPN 28 loses co-main, sees main card fight come back after being canceled
(Editor’s note, 4:08 p.m. ET: This story has been updated to reflect Jared Gooden vs. Niklas Stolze returning to the lineup after it was announced as being canceled.)
The UFC on ESPN 28 lineup just can’t seem to make up its mind.
Just hours away from the event, veteran Rani Yahya announced that his co-main event against Kyung Ho Kang was canceled after he tested positive for COVID-19. Promotion officials later announced that Jared Gooden vs. Niklas Stolze also was canceled because of COVID protocols but eventually backtracked.
According to ESPN, Gooden vs. Niklas is back on after both men received doctor’s clearance. Neither of them tested positive for COVID.
Assuming there are no more changes, UFC on ESPN 28 will proceed with 10 bouts after starting the week with 15.
In addition the Yahya vs. Kang cancellation, the original co-main event between Chris Daukaus and Shamil Abdurakhimov was pulled Monday, as well as Sam Alvey vs. Roman Kopylov canceled due to visa issues. Additionally, two more bouts fell off after Friday’s weigh-ins: Nicco Montano vs. Wu Yanan, and Ronnie Lawrence vs. Trevin Jones.
Yahya reveled the news of his positive COVID test Saturday morning on his Instagram account.
“Hey, guys, my fight just got canceled,” Yahya wrote. “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!!”
Cheyanne Buys vs. Gloria de Paula, each fighter coming off a loss in their lone UFC appearance, will serve as the co-headliner for the ESPN-televised main card.
The complete UFC on ESPN 28 lineup:
MAIN CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)
- Uriah Hall vs. Sean Strickland
- Cheyanne Buys vs. Gloria de Paula
- Jared Gooden vs. Niklas Stolze
- Bryan Barberena vs. Jason Witt
- Collin Anglin vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)
- Rafa Garcia vs. Chris Gruetzemacher
- Danny Chavez vs. Kai Kamaka
- Jinh Yu Frey vs. Ashley Yoder
- Zarrukh Adashev vs. Ryan Benoit
- Orion Cosce vs. Phil Rowe