Assuncao was taken off the Feb. 27 card due to a COVID-19 positive, he wrote on Twitter after an initial report from MMA Junkie. With three weeks until the event at UFC APEX in Las Vegas, the promotion will need to quickly find a replacement opponent. A person close to Barcelos told MMA Fighting the team is still waiting to hear if the search is underway.
2021 started a bit bumpy for sure... a car accident with nagging elbow/arm injury and COVID unfortunately has forced me out of my Feb 27 fight against countryman Barcelos .
PT is underway intensively, be back sooner than later.
Thx all
— Raphael Assuncao (@RaphaAssuncao) February 3, 2021
Barcelos has lost three opponents while in the UFC, most recently a bout with Merab Dvashvili at UFC Vegas 16 this past December due to a medical suspension he received in a previous fight. The Brazilian has won five straight bouts at 135 pounds, outpointing Khalid Taha in his previous appearance at UFC Vegas 13. PT is underway intensively, be back sooner than later.
Thx all
— Raphael Assuncao (@RaphaAssuncao) February 3, 2021
Assuncao, meanwhile, is on the rebound after a knockout loss to ex-champ Cody Garbrandt at UFC 250. The setback was his third straight after an 11-1 run in which his only loss came to future champ T.J. Dillashaw.
UFC Vegas 20 is currently headlined by a heavyweight fight between Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Ciryl Gane.
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