Khamzat Chimaev is out of his March 13 contest with Leon Edwards.
The fast-rising UFC newcomer has been forced to withdraw from the contest due to lingering physical effects of COVID-19, per ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, making this the third time the bout has fallen through.
The UFC is expected to move on from the much-anticipated match-up, with Edwards getting a new opponent and even potentially a new date.
The 170-pound clash has had multiple complications due to the coronavirus, with both Edwards and Chimaev contracting it and forcing proceedings to be pushed back. UFC president Dana White had attempted to keep the fight on track, and had made no secret about his interest in seeing the two compete.
For Chimaev, it’s potentially devastating news. This is twice his fight has been pushed back due to lingering issues from COVID, and for a 26-year old athlete, that’s a worrying state of affairs.
