Magomed Ankalaev and Ion Cutelaba off Saturday’s UFC 252 card
Magomed Ankalaev and Ion Cutelaba now off the UFC 252 card after Cutelaba tested positive for COVID-19.
Fight rescheduled for August 29th.
The anticipated rematch between Ion Cutelaba and Magomed Ankalaev is off yet again. Although, we won’t have to wait much longer.
The fight was pulled from UFC 252 on Saturday. After Cutelaba tested positive for COVID-19. His manager Tiago Okamura confirmed to MMA Fighting after Igor Lazorin first reported.
Additionally, Cutelaba is now in quarantine after testing positive for the virus on Sunday.
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“Just got to make sure he doesn’t get sick these next few days,” the manager wrote. Adding the current plan is to rebook the match-up for the promotion’s Aug. 29 fight card.
This is the second time the matchup between Cutelaba and Ankalaev has been postponed. Before a initial rebooking at UFC 249. When the coronavirus pandemic postponed the event.
The first meeting at UFC Norfolk ended in controversy after the referee called a TKO win for Ankalaev, who seemed to hurt Cutelaba with a punch. Cutelaba, immediately protested and said he was setting a trap so he could counter his opponent.
Cutelaba appealed the official decision although, the athletic commission found no basis to do so. Consequently, Ankalaev preserved the win. Still, he welcomed the rematch. As a result, the promotion preceded to book the rematch.
Cutelaba is 4-4 during his UFC career and 15-5 with one no contest as a professional. Ankalaev has won 13 of his first 14 professional appearances and is on a four-bout winning streak in the Octagon. His one loss came to Scotland’s Paul Craig.
Furthermore, with Cutelaba’s removal, the latest UFC 252 lineup includes:
Champ Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier – for heavyweight title
Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera
Junior Dos Santos vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
John Dodson vs. Merab Dvalishvili
Livinha Souza vs. Ashley Yoder
Felice Herrig vs. Virna Jandiroba
Jorge Gonzalez vs. Ike Villanueva
Herbert Burns vs. Daniel Pineda
Chris Daukaus vs. Parker Porter
Kai Kamaka III vs. Tony Kelley
