Report: Leon Edwards Tests Positive For COVID-19, UFC Vegas 17 Headliner With Khamzat Chimaev Off

Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC & Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC

The UFC has lost yet another headlining tilt ahead of the close of 2020. Scheduled to headline UFC Vegas 17 on December 19th. -- perennial welterweight contender, Leon 'Rocky' Edwards has recently tested positive for COVID-19, ruling him from the potential title eliminator against the captivating, Khamzat 'Borz' Chimaev.

According to a report from ESPN MMA reporter, Ariel Helwani, Edwards has returned a positive test for the novel coronavirus, forcing the cancellation of the December 19th. showdown - with the UFC now hoping to rework the matchup of the former and Chimaev for an event in early 2021. 

Edwards, who had yet to feature since UFC Fight Night San Antonio in July of last year where he scored a unanimous decision win over former lightweight best, Rafael dos Anjos -- has notched an incredible eight straight victories since his unanimous judging loss to current welterweight champion, Kamaru 'The Nigerian Nightmare' Usman at UFC Fight Night Orlando in December of 2015.

For Chechen-born force, Chimaev, the wrecking machine has blasted through three opponents just less than six whole months since his promotional bow back in July at UFC Fight Island. The AllStars MMA trainee had debuted in the promotion with a second-round kimura win over John Phillips, before scoring a dominant first-round knockout win over Rhys 'Skeletor' McKee just ten days later in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Featuring at UFC Vegas 11 in September, Chimaev scored a massive first-round knockout win over grappling ace, Gerald 'GM3' Meerschaert with a huge seventeen-second one-punch finish.

Reports began to circulate yesterday evening that Chimaev had, in fact, returned a positive COVID-19 test result, however, those reports proved to be wide of the mark. With the above-mentioned, Helwani's report tonight, the pairing is, unfortunately, officially shelved for the time being.