LFA 85 loses Chris Brown due to COVID-19 positive

LFA 85 is down one fight due to a positive COVID-19 test.

A promotion official on Friday told MMA Fighting that lightweight Chris Brown was ruled out of his fight against Ignacio Bahamondes when he tested positive for the virus. The bout was scrapped from the card, which takes place tonight at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., and streams live on UFC Fight Pass.

Brown’s manager, Rick Guerrero of Mata Leon Sports Management, confirmed the positive test and released a statement on Brown’s removal.

“We are thankful that this was detected and contained by event officials,” Guerrero stated. “Chris is asymptomatic and is following all of the guidelines set in place by the medical team. We hope to get him back in the LFA Octagon soon.”

Before announcing a quartet of July events, LFA and Sanford Pentagon enacted strict health protocols overseen by local health care provider Sanford Health that included COVID-19 testing, social distancing and quarantine protocols to prevent the spread of the virus.

All of the remaining fighters tested negative for COVID-19, according to a press release from the promotion.

LFA 85 is headlined by a strawweight title bout between Sam Hughes and Vanessa Demopoulos.