Report: Heinisch withdraws from UFC 250 after coach tests positive for COVID-19

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Ian Heinisch pulled out of his UFC 250 middleweight bout against Gerald Meerschaert for precautionary reasons after one of his cornermen tested positive for the coronavirus, sources told TSN's Aaron Bronsteter.

It's unclear which coach tested positive. The UFC has not yet issued a statement regarding the matter.

Heinisch's withdrawal was first reported by MMA Fighting's Damon Martin earlier Thursday.

The 31-year-old spent his training camp for UFC 250 at Genesis Training Academy in Colorado after leaving Factory X. Heinisch was looking to snap a two-fight skid after losses to Omari Akhmedov and Derek Brunson in 2019.

Meerschaert will now face newcomer Anthony Ivy, sources told MMA Fighting's Martin and Mike Heck.

However, Bronsteter added later Thursday that Heinisch's coach will be tested again to determine whether the initial result was a false positive. If subsequent tests come back negative, Heinisch reportedly could still compete on Saturday. The fighter is continuing to cut weight and train.

UFC 250 takes place Saturday night at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It will feature a women's featherweight title bout between champion Amanda Nunes and Felicia Spencer.

The promotion resumed operations amid the pandemic in May and held four events - three in Jacksonville and one in Las Vegas. Ronaldo Souza and two of his coaches tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of UFC 249 on May 9 in Florida. Souza was removed from the card, and he and his coaches left the host hotel and self-isolated.