UFC 258 has lost a key main-card fight.
A scheduled bantamweight contender bout Saturday between Pedro Munhoz and Jimmie Rivera has been canceled due to a coronavirus-related issue, the UFC announced Wednesday. Sources said the promotion is attempting to rebook the matchup as soon as later this month.
In its place, Andre Ewell and Chris Gutierrez will meet in a 140-pound catchweight bout. Ewell was pulled from last Saturday’s UFC Fight Night due to a positive COVID-19 test that he said was a false positive.
Munhoz (18-5, 1 NC) has lost two straight, but most recently fell in a close decision with Frankie Edgar last August. The Brazil native, who lives and trains in Florida, was on a three-fight winning streak prior to that, including a knockout of former champion Cody Garbrandt. Munhoz, 34, is ESPN’s No. 8-ranked bantamweight.
Rivera (23-4) snapped a two-fight losing streak by beating Cody Stamann last July. The New Jersey native has only lost in the UFC to bantamweight champion Petr Yan and top contenders Aljamain Sterling and Marlon Moraes. Rivera, 31, sports a 7-3 UFC record.
UFC 258 is headlined by a welterweight title fight between champion Kamaru Usman and former teammate Gilbert Burns. In the co-main event, top prospect Maycee Barber faces Alexa Grasso in a women’s flyweight bout.