Though it’s not quite at the level of Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson, the matchup between Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev is already getting that cursed feeling.
The proposed bout has already fallen through twice due to both men testing positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus. However, the UFC has put its eggs into that basket and has found a new date for the contest.
Edwards and Chimaev have now been booked to fight on 13 March and will headline what’s shaping up to be a stacked UFC Fight Night card after the promotion announced the heavyweight tilt between top strikers Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Ciryl Gane.
At the time of writing, there is no location announced for this event as yet.
Birmingham native Edwards will be more than eager to get back into the Octagon after spending a year on the sidelines. He was all set to fight Tyron Woodley in arguably the biggest fight of his career in March last year before the pandemic hit and cancelled that event in London’s O2 Arena.
While Edwards was watching on, Chimaev became one of the breakout stars of 2020 against the backdrop of coronavirus disruption.
Chimaev made short work of John Phillips, Rhys McKee and Gerald Meerschaert last year and the unbeaten Dagestan-born Swede is looking to ascend up the UFC rankings with a victory over Edwards later this year.