Edwards off card after venue moved to U.S., Woodley eyeing Covington
Warning: Story contains coarse language
One day after president Dana White said UFC Fight Night 171 will be relocated from London to the United States, Leon Edwards announced on Instagram that his main-event bout against Tyron Woodley has been called off.
While Edwards will no longer feature, Woodley's involvement on the card is still to be determined, according to Ariel Helwani of ESPN.
Woodley told Helwani that he's ready to fight and is eyeing Colby Covington as a replacement opponent.
Covington, who most recently lost a welterweight title shot against champion Kamaru Usman, seems willing to take the short-notice bout.
Word on the street is @LeonScott is out. The @ufc and America need a hero. Who wants see America’s Champ put the #MAGA cape on and beat the fuck out of @twooodley live on @ESPN next week for your entertainment and my own personal pleasure? 🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸
— Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) March 15, 2020
Originally scheduled to take place at The O2 Arena in London, White decided to move the event due to the U.S. extending its travel ban to the U.K. and Ireland amid coronavirus fears. A new venue has yet to be confirmed.
"Last night I went to sleep still with some hope that UFC London would continue next week," Edwards said Sunday. "I woke up this morning to the news that it won't be."
The British welterweight added, "I have been dreaming of headlining a UFC show in my home country since I started this sport. This cancellation is truly heartbreaking."
The UFC is currently working on rebuilding an entirely new card for Saturday's event, Helwani adds, due to the fact that the majority of fighters currently involved in the event are based overseas and would be barred from traveling to the U.S.
On Saturday, the UFC went forward with an event in Brasilia, Brazil, but didn't allow fans to attend.