Leon Edwards Tests Positive for COVID-19, UFC Fight Night 183 Headliner Canceled

The highly-anticipated welterweight scrap between Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev won’t be happening on Dec. 19 as originally expected.

According to ESPN, the UFC Fight Night 183 headliner has been canceled after Edwards tested positive for COVID-19. The promotion is hoping to rebook the contest in 2021, but a new date has not been finalized at this point in time.

UFC Fight Night 183 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The promotion is considering elevating Geoff Neal vs. Stephen Thompson to the main event slot, per ESPN. The card streams in its entirety on ESPN+.

Edwards’ encounter with the virus was a difficult one, as the British fighter reportedly lost 12 pounds in four days and is recovering at home. The 29-year-old Team Renegade product has not competed since July 2019 when he outpointed Rafael dos Anjos in the UFC on ESPN 4 headliner. “Rocky” was slated to meet Tyron Woodley on March 21 in London before that event was canceled due to the pandemic. Edwards has been victorious in his last eight Octagon appearances.

Chimaev, meanwhile, has emerged as one of the breakout stars of 2020. The Allstars Training Center representative turned heads with finishes of John Phillips and Rhys McKee within a 10-day span in July, and he returned to action at UFC Fight Night 178 on Sept. 19, when he knocked out Gerald Meerschaert in 17 seconds. “Borz” is 9-0 as a professional, with all of his victories coming inside the distance.