During a live Instagram chat, UFC President Dana White told Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports that Burns vs. Pineda will now serve on the main card. Previously, the matchup was set for the ESPN+ early prelims at UFC APEX in Las Vegas.
Ankalaev vs. Cutelaba was scratched after Cutelaba tested positive for COVID-19. Cutelaba is now quarantining in hopes of recovering and rebooking the fight on Aug. 29 at the UFC APEX.
For Burns and Pineda, the scratch is an undoubtedly good break. Burns, the younger brother of welterweight contender Gilbert Burns, impressed in his octagon debut at UFC 250, where he submitted veteran Evan Dunham in the first round. Pineda, meanwhile, is returning to the UFC after a six-year hiatus and a recent drug positive that scratched him from the finals of PFL’s Season 2 tournament and resulted in a suspension.
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