Gym: Alexander Romanov was removed from UFC 251 due to positive COVID-19 tests

Alexander Romanov won’t be fighting at UFC 251 and according to his gym, that’s due to positive COVID-19 tests.

In an Instagram post Thursday, his home gym, Lion Comrat, revealed that Romanov (11-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and his coaches had tested positive for COVID-19 on July 1. The post also said a second test had come back negative. However, the wording makes it unclear whether the negative test was an antibody test or a second swab test.

Romanov was removed from his UFC 251 fight against Marcin Tybura late this past week and was replaced by Maxim Grishin. The reason for his departure from the card was unknown to the public until Thursday.

“Dear friends, we were all looking forward to Alexander Romanov’s debut in UFC, which was to take place this Saturday, July 11, 2020. Unfortunately, he and his team tested POSITIVE for Covid-19 on the 1st of July 2020 and even if the repeated test, done on the 3rd of July 2020 came back NEGATIVE, indicating only the presence of antibodies in one of the coaches’ system, Alexander Romanov has already been removed from the fight card, just as other four other foreign fighters who were going to fight Saturday at UFC 251. Alexander feels great, he trains in isolation and looks forward to his next fight in UFC. We wish him success and good health!”

Romanov joins a handful of other fighters, corners and coaches who have tested positive ahead of UFC “Fight Island” bouts – including Gilbert Burns, Mike Brown, Pedro Munhoz and Marina Rodriguez.

UFC 251 was supposed to be Romanov’s promotional debut after an initial April fight cancellation. Romanov, 29, has finished all 11 of his professional fights inside the distance.