Vinicius Moreira out of July 15 UFC bout with Modestas Bukauskas after testing positive for COVID-19

Brazilian light heavyweight Vinicius Moreira tested positive for coronavirus and was forced out of his upcoming UFC bout with Modestas Bukauskas on July 15, sources told MMA Fighting.

Much like Anderson dos Santos, who was removed from the same show due to a positive COVID-19 test, Moreira is quarantined in a hotel in Sao Paulo since Wednesday. “Mamute” was removed from the Abu Dhabi show after the test result came back positive.

Bukauskas (10-2), a former Cage Warriors light heavyweight champion, needs a new opponent for his UFC debut. MMA Fighting learned that the UFC is currently searching for a replacement. The July 15 show will be headlined by Calvin Kattar vs, Dan Ige.

Moreira (9-4) signed with the UFC after finishing John Allan at Dana White’s Contender Series in 2018, but went winless in his first three octagon appearances against Alonzo Menifield, Eryk Anders and Paul Craig this past year.