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.
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.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 .
— Raphael Assuncao (@RaphaAssuncao) February 3, 2021
PT is underway intensively, be back sooner than later.
Thx all
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.