The UFC Fight Night main event on Saturday night between No. 2-ranked heavyweight Curtis Blaydes and No. 4-ranked Derrick Lewis has been scrapped because of Blaydes testing positive for COVID-19. A new headliner wasn't announced. Anthony Smith vs. Devin Smith is currently the show's co-main event and will likely become the headliner.
ESPN was the first to report Blaydes' positive result. A source has told DAZN News that the UFC is looking to reschedule the fight for UFC 256 on Dec. 12, but an agreement isn't finalized.
The winner had been expected to put himself in a position to make the claim of being the No. 1 contender for heavyweight champion against Stipe Miocic. Blaydes (14-2, one no-contest) is currently on a four-fight winning streak, including a unanimous decision win over No. 6-ranked Alexander Volkov in a UFC Fight Night headliner back in June. A win against Lewis would move Blaydes toward his first UFC title shot.
Lewis (24-7, one no-contest), a former heavyweight title challenger, is on a good run of his own. The Texas native has won three consecutive bouts, including a second-round TKO victory against No. 10-ranked Aleksei Oleinik in a UFC Fight Night main event back in August. Getting a victory over Blaydes would give "The Black Beast" another opportunity at UFC gold after losing by second-round submission to Daniel Cormier at UFC 230 in November 2018.