Amanda Nunes Out Of UFC 265 Title Bout With Julianna Pena Due To Positive COVID-19 Test Result

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari - Zuffa LLC

Reigning UFC featherweight and bantamweight gold holder, Amanda 'The Lioness' Nunes is out of her UFC 265 co-headlining bantamweight title defence against the #5 ranked contender, Julianna 'The Venezuelan Vixen' Pena on August 7th. from the Toyota Centre in Houston, Texas -- following a positive COVID-19 test result.

Nunes, the promotion's undisputed bantamweight champion was slated to return to the bantamweight division for the first time since December of 2019 where she defended the crown in a rematch against inaugural featherweight best, Germaine de Randamie. ESPN MMA reporter, Mike Coppinger was first to report the news this evening as per UFC chief business officer, Hunter Campbell. 

Undefeated in her last 12 professional outings, Bahia finisher Nunes has bested the likes of Ronda Rousey. Miesha Tate, Holly Holm, Cris Cyborg, Valentina Shevchenko (x2), Raquel Pennington, Felicia Spencer, de Randamie (x2), and Megan Anderson during her spectacular run. 

In her last Octagon appearance, Nunes bested former Invicta FC featherweight best, Anderson with a stunning opening round triangle armbar stoppage to lodge the second defence of the 145lbs championship in the co-headlining bout of UFC 259 in March at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Rebounding to the winner's enclosure in her last Octagon walk, Washington native, Pena met with one-time bantamweight title chaser, Sara McMann on 'Fight Island' in January at UFC 256 -- stopping the Olympian with a third round armbar. 

Pena, the victor of The Ultimate Fighter 18 added McMann to prior successes against the likes of now Bellator featherweight contender, Cat Zingano, former flyweight title challenger, Jessica Eye, and inaugural flyweight gold holder, Nicco Montano.

UFC 265 will proceed on August 7th. with a headlining bout between Derrick Lewis and Ciryl Gane slated for the pay-per-view showcase. The interim heavyweight champion is up for grabs between the two.