Gregor Gillespie vs. Brad Riddell Pulled from UFC on ESPN 21 Due to COVID-19 Protocols

Gregor Gillespie’s Octagon return will have to wait until another day.

The UFC on ESPN 21 co-main event pitting Gillespie against Brad Riddell has been pulled from the card due to “COVID-19 protocols,” the promotion announced Saturday. The lightweight bout will be rescheduled at a later date. As a result, UFC on ESPN 21 will proceed with 10 fights.

UFC on ESPN 21 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and is headlined by a middleweight clash between Kevin Holland and Derek Brunson. The prelims stream on ESPN and ESPN+ beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT, while the main card begins on ESPN and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

An NCAA national champion wrestler and four-time All American at Edinboro University, Gillespie kicked off his MMA tenure with 13 consecutive triumphs – including six wins in UFC competition. He suffered his first defeat in November 2019, falling to Kevin Lee via head-kick KO at UFC 244. Gillespie has not fought since then.

Anchored at City Kickboxing, Riddell earned triumphs over Jamie Mullarkey, Magomed Mustafaev and Alex da Silva Coelho in his first three UFC outings. The 29-year-old Auckland, New Zealand, native is 9-1 as a professional overall.