Jorge Masvidal passes COVID-19 test, fight against Kamaru Usman official for UFC 251

Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

The UFC 251 main event is now official.

Late Sunday night, Jorge Masvidal received the results of his COVID-19 test, which cleared the way for him to fight Kamaru Usman with the welterweight title up for grabs on Saturday night on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.

Multiple sources confirmed the news to MMA Fighting on Sunday with the UFC also announcing the main event as official.

OFFICIAL.

The BMF steps in on six days notice for #UFC251 @VisitAbuDhabi #InAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/eNq5CZMTTM

— UFC (@ufc) July 6, 2020

Both Masvidal and Usman traveled to Las Vegas on Sunday to put the finishing touches on their bout agreements as well as undergoing COVID-19 testing. Now the fighters will board private, chartered flights to Abu Dhabi on Monday.

The athletes will not be on the same plane together, however, as Masvidal will fly on a private plane charter by his representatives at First Round Management.

Of course after landing in Abu Dhabi, Usman, Masvidal and their coaches will undergo several more COVID-19 tests before officially being cleared to compete on Saturday night, but the biggest hurdle has now been cleared.

The UFC came to an agreement with Masvidal in a matter of hours after Gilbert Burns was knocked out of the UFC 251 main event after he tested positive for the coronavirus. Once the two sides reached a deal, Masvidal boarded a flight bound for Las Vegas to undergo COVID-19 testing with hopes of fighting for the welterweight title six days later.

Now the fight is official as Masvidal faces Usman in the UFC 251 main event from “Fight Island.”