Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. The
Ultimate Fighting Championship can’t catch a break when it
comes to COVID-19. On Thursday, AdjaraSport
reported that Cody
Stamann (19-3-1) has tested positive for COVID-19, and that he
was forced to pull out of his matchup with Merab
Dvalishvili (12-4). The two were set to square off at the
UFC event on Dec. 5, and Dvalishvili confirmed his opponent’s
withdrawal on his Facebook
page. Subsequent
reports have claimed that Stamann himself did not contract
COVID-19, conflicting with what Stamann’s former foe claimed. The
promotion is currently searching for a replacement opponent, and
Dvalishvili is asking for a top-ranked opponent to fill the
void.
“My fight with Cody
Stamann was cancelled and we are looking for a new opponent,”
Dvalishvili wrote. “Cody got coronavirus and while there’s six
weeks still left, he doesn’t want to fight for now. Hopefully UFC
will give me top-15/top-10 guy. I am ready for whoever.”
Dvalishvili is looking to keep his lengthy win streak intact, as
the Georgian fighter has not lost a fight since April 2018. Since
then, “The Machine” has captured five consecutive unanimous
verdicts, most recently topping John Dodson
in August to spell the latter’s release. The Serra-Longo fighter
has gone the distance in 12 of 16 career bouts, with his lone
stoppage defeat a literal last-second submission loss when Ricky Simon
put him to sleep with a guillotine choke at the 5:00 mark of the
third round.
Stamann was looking to bounce back from the second decision loss of
his career, which he suffered in July to Jimmie
Rivera. The setback snapped a three-fight unbeaten streak that
included wins over Brian
Kelleher and Alejandro
Perez along the way. After rattling off a trio of decision wins
– like Dvalishvili, each of Stamann’s UFC wins have come on the
scorecards – to begin his UFC career, “The Spartan” suffered his
first stoppage loss when Aljamain
Sterling landed an unorthodox Suloev Stretch kneebar on him at
UFC 228 in 2018.
The Dec. 5 UFC card goes down at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, with a
middleweight headliner between Jack
Hermansson and Darren Till
sitting atop the lineup. Although there is no official co-main
event announced, other bouts scheduled include a fun heavyweight
scrap between former light heavyweights Gian
Villante and Jake
Collier, and Bethe
Correia takes her final walk against Yanan Wu at
women’s bantamweight.
