UFC 251: Gilbert Burns tests positive for coronavirus; out of Kamaru Usman main event on ‘Fight Island’

Brazilian and two cornermen return positive tests in Las Vegas, and do not board flight to Abu Dhabi

Burns and Usman both train in Florida, where their Sanford MMA teammate Aung La N Sang also tested positive for Covid-19 this week

1-MIN READ1-MIN

Gilbert Burns celebrates after his victory over Tyron Woodley in their welterweight bout during UFC Fight Night. Photo: USA TODAY Sports

Published: 12:39pm, 4 Jul 2020Updated: 12:39pm, 4 Jul 2020

Gilbert Burns has tested positive for Covid-19 and is out of next weekend’s UFC 251 main event against welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.

It was reported by MMA Junkie that neither fighter boarded a charter flight to Abu Dhabi on Friday night. MMA Junkie later reported the Brazilian and two of his cornermen – his brother and fellow UFC star Herbert Burns, and coach Greg Jones – had returned positive tests.

They had travelled from Florida to Las Vegas, which the UFC is using as a hub to test fighters before four events on “Fight Island” in the UAE this month.

Burns (18-3) and Usman (16-1) both live and train in Florida, which reported more than 10,000 new coronavirus cases on Thursday – the biggest one-day increase for the southeastern state since the pandemic started.

ONE Championship double title-holder Aung La N Sang – Burns’ and Usman’s teammate at Sanford MMA in Fort Lauderdale – had revealed on Thursday he recently tested positive for coronavirus.