Tate vs. Murphy Relocated to UFC Long Island on July 16 Due to COVID-19 Protocols

A flyweight clash pitting Miesha Tate against Lauren Murphy has been relocated to UFC on ABC 3 on July 16 due to COVID-19 protocols.

Tate vs. Murphy was originally slated for UFC 276 this Saturday. The promotion announced the rescheduled bout on Monday:

“Due to COVID-19 protocols, the women’s flyweight bout between Lauren Murphy and Miesha Tate is being moved to UFC Fight Night ‘Ortega vs Rodriguez’ on July 16,” the statement read. Murphy revealed via social media that she tested positive for the virus.

"It's super unfortunate to get COVID right before International Fight Week," Murphy wrote. "But I just couldn't, in good conscience, go forward with the fight this weekend and risk getting others sick. I'm recovering, and will be in fighting shape soon."

UFC on ABC 3 takes place at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y., and is headlined by a featherweight clash between Brian Ortega and Yair Rodriguez. The evening’s main card airs on ABC and ESPN+ at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT, while prelims are broadcast on ESPN and ESPN+ beginning at 11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT.

A former bantamweight champion, Tate returned from a retirement that lasted nearly five years last July, when she defeated Marion Reneau via TKO at UFC on ESPN 26. In her most recent outing, “Cupcake” dropped a five-round verdict to Ketlen Vieira in the UFC Fight Night 198 main event on Nov. 20. The matchup with Murphy will mark Tate’s 125-pound debut.

The 38-year-old Murphy will return to action for the first time since suffering a fourth-round TKO defeat to Valentina Shevchenko in a flyweight title tilt at UFC 266 last September. Prior to that, the former Invicta FC title holder had won five straight contests in UFC competition.