In disappointing news for anyone looking forward to UFC 272 this weekend, one of the two Rafaels on the main card has been forced out of the bout. Rafael Fiziev was due to fight Rafael dos Anjos this Saturday night, but unfortunately has contracted COVID-19, and will no longer appear fight.
The news broke on The MMA Hour earlier today, while host Ariel Helwani was in the middle of an interview with Rafael dos Anjos. “I just got a text message from his manager, that he is out of the fight.
Fiziev Pulls Out of UFC 272 Due To COVID-19
He has COVID. He flew to the US to acclimate on Thursday after he got his work visa, felt fine, woke up Saturday sick as a dog.
Fever, body aches, got tested, positive for covid. He also sent me his visa to show that the issue date was February 15, but he didn’t get his passport back til Feb 21st, so this fight isn’t happening!” Fiziev took to Twitter not long after to announce that he was pulling out of the fight.
“I’m devastated to announce that I’m out of the fight. I had a great camp and was ready to put on the show, I flew all the way to Vegas from Thailand just to get sick with covid, for 3 days I’m in hotel bed with fever, bones pain and cough […]
I called out RDA and I still want that fight when my health will allow me to compete again. Apologies to him, but saying that I was faking it is complete nonsense. Time will put everything in place”
RDA replied, offering his condolences to his fallen opponent with a Tweet reading “I was completely shocked when I heard the news. Hope you feel better.”
The question now is, if RDA is still ready to fight, who will be willing to step up and take on the former champ. Dos Anjos said that he did not want to “throw the fight camp away”, and was willing to continue against a different opponent.
Islam Makhachev, who fought only last weekend in a dominant first-round stoppage victory over Bobby Green, quickly Tweeted at RDA in an offer to step into the Octagon at short notice. “170 ??? Let’s do it. We have unfinished business RDA”
Will the UFC reschedule RDA vs Fiziev, or does Islam Makhachev step up and take his second fight in only a week? Let us know in the comments.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdM73289hO8
