Nunes tests positive for COVID, fight vs. Pena postponed

Amanda Nunes Handout Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Amanda Nunes tests positive for COVID-19, fight vs. Julianna Pena postponed

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 7/29/21

UFC 265 in Houston on Aug. 7 may need a new co-main event or, at least, another top-drawing fight.

ESPN's Mike Coppinger confirmed that two-division champion Amanda Nunes (21-4-0) won't defend her bantamweight title versus Julianna Pena (11-4-0) at the upcoming UFC 265 pay-per-view because Nunes tested positive for COVID-19.

UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell told ESPN the bout will be rescheduled once Nunes is feeling better and healthy enough to adequately train and compete. There's no public timetable for Nunes' return as of Thursday.

Derrick Lewis and Ciryl Gane are fighting for the interim heavyweight crown in what was originally the other co-main event. That fight could now simply headline the card on its own.

Derrick Lewis meets Ciryl Gane in the main event for the UFC interim heavyweight championship
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) July 29, 2021

Nunes has essentially cleared both divisions and cruised to an easy win over Megan Anderson at UFC 259 in March. The 33-year-old hasn't lost since September 2014.

Pena, 31, fell to former featherweight champion Germaine de Randamie in October 2020 but bounced back to defeat Sara McMann via third-round submission this past January.

Whenever the two are rescheduled to meet, Nunes will likely be a massive favorite to topple Pena and retain her strap.

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