Glover Teixeira Tests Positive for COVID-19, Bout vs. Thiago Santos Moved to Oct. 3

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A pivotal light heavyweight clash pitting Glover Teixeira against Thiago Santos will no longer take place at UFC Fight Night 177 on Sept. 12.

Teixeira has tested positive for COVID-19, and as a result, the bout vs. Santos will be postponed until Oct. 3. Multiple outlets confirmed the news following an initial report from Combate.

UFC Fight Night 177 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and features a strawweight co-main event between Michelle Waterson and Angela Hill. It’s currently unclear if Waterson vs. Hill will be elevated to the new headliner.

Teixeira vs. Santos is now slated for UFC on ESPN 16, which will be held on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. That card is currently headlined by a women’s bantamweight tilt between Holly Holm and Irene Aldana. According to ESPN, the light heavyweight bout will now be contested over three rounds instead of five.

A former 205-pound title challenger, Teixeira is currently on a four-bout winning streak. He last appeared at UFC Fight Night 171, where he defeated Anthony Smith via fifth-round TKO in the evening’s main event.

Santos will be competing for the first time since dropping a split decision to Jon Jones in a light heavyweight title bout at UFC 239.