Positive COVID-19 Result Knocks Raphael Assuncao Out of UFC Fight Night 186

Raphael Assuncao will not square off against Raoni Barcelos at UFC Fight Night 186 as originally planned.

The Brazilian veteran revealed via Twitter that a positive COVID-19 test has forced him to withdraw from the bantamweight bout. UFC Fight Night 186 takes place on Feb. 27 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and is headlined by a heavyweight clash between Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis. It is currently unclear if Barcelos will receive a replacement opponent.

2021 started a bit bumpy for sure... a car accident with nagging elbow/arm injury and COVID unfortunately has forced me out of my Feb 27 fight against countryman Barcelos .
PT is underway intensively, be back sooner than later.
Thx all

— Raphael Assuncao (@RaphaAssuncao) February 3, 2021

Assuncao was hoping to halt a three-bout skid against Barcelos. Most recently, the 38-year-old Ascension MMA product suffered a second-round knockout loss to Cody Garbrandt at UFC 250 this past June.

Barcelos, meanwhile, has emerged as a person of interest at bantamweight thanks to victories in his first five UFC appearances. In his last outing, the 33-year-old Brazilian outpointed Khalid Taha at UFC on ESPN 17 in November.