Recently it was reported that talks to make Kamaru Usman versus Jorge Masvidal a reality were headed in the right direction, and now it’s being reported the fight’s been signed.

The final hurdle is a COVID-19 test

The UFC was forced to scramble to find a replacement for the card’s headliner, when it was confirmed that Gilbert Burns has tested positive for COVID-19. After that, word came that the UFC was trying to move Masvidal into the main event bout.

More recently, ESPN’s Ariel Helwani as well as other outlets like MMA Fighting are reporting that Usman – Masvidal is finalized, provided ‘Gamebred’ tests negative for the coronavirus.

It’s been a crazy time for Masvidal, as the plan was to have him fight Usman next all along. But, ‘Gamebred’ wasn’t happy with the UFC’s initial offer and that led to public battle with the promotion over his contract and fighter pay.

Updated UFC 251 line-up

Provided all goes well with Masvidal’s testing, here is the revised line-up for UFC 251, which will take place on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.

Kamaru Usman* vs. Jorge Masvidal – for weltereight championship
Alexander Volkanovski* vs. Max Holloway – for featherweight title
Petr Yan vs. Jose Aldo – for vacant bantamweight title
Jessica Andrade vs. Rose Namajunas
Amanda Ribas vs. Paige VanZant
Volkan Oezdemir vs. Jiri Prochazka
Muslim Salikhov vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos
Makwan Amirkhani vs. Danny Henry
Roman Bogatov vs. Leonardo Santos
Alexander Romanov vs. Marcin Tybura
Raulian Paiva vs. Zhalgas Zhumagulov
Vanessa Melo vs. Karol Rosa
Martin Day vs. Davey Grant

*champion

Line-up via MMA Junkie

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