Araújo tests positive for COVID-19, Calderwood steps in

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Female flyweight Viviane Araujo became the latest fighter to test positive for COVID-19.

While Brazil just passed the mark of 80 thousand deaths by COVID-19, yet another Brazilian fighter tested positive for coronavirus. Originally scheduled to take on Jennifer Maia at UFC Fight Night 173, female flyweight Viviane Araujo has been forced to leave the card after her positive result came back. Now, as Combate reports, the 33-year-old will be replaced by Joanne Calderwood.

Araujo now joins a list composed of four other Brazilian fighters who also tested positive for the coronavirus just this month, consisting of Gilbert Burns, Pedro Munhoz, Vinicius Moreira and Deiveson Figueiredo. However, the latter’s case was cleared after new exams showed ‘Deus da Guerra’ only had traces of the virus’ antibodies, due to first coming down with COVID-19 back in May.

Furthermore, one of strawweight Marina Rodriguez’s cornermen also tested positive for the virus this month, forcing her fight against Carla Esparza to be postponed from July 15 to July 25.

In her last outing, Araujo (8-2) dropped a unanimous decision to top contender Jessica Eye, back in December 2019. The defeat snapped a two-fight win streak for the 33-year-old, with victories over Talita Bernardo and Alexis Davis.

Now, Calderwood (14-4) will look to begin a new win streak following a split decision win over Andrea Lee, back in September 2019. On the other side of the Octagon, Maia (17-6-1) will try to bounce back from a unanimous decision loss to former title challenger Katlyn Chookagian, in November 2019.

The pair of female flyweights is now expected to square off at UFC Fight Night 173, on August 1, at the UFC Apex, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card is scheduled to be headlined by a female bantamweight bout between former champion Holly Holm and contender Irene Aldana.