Murphy-Tate moving to UFC Long Island due to positive COVID-19 test

Miesha Tate's debut in the women's flyweight division will take place two weeks later than planned.

The former UFC bantamweight champion's fight against Lauren Murphy is being moved to UFC Long Island on July 16, the promotion announced Monday. It was confirmed Saturday that the fight had been pulled from UFC 276 on July 2.

Murphy withdrew from the bout due to COVID-19, she confirmed in a statement to MMA Fighting's Mike Heck on Sunday.

"Yeah, the COVID got me," Murphy said. "I'm still testing positive and was sick a few days. I couldn't risk showing up at International Fight Week and still be carrying the virus. I would hate to think if anyone else got infected because of me."

Tate, who's set to drop to 125 pounds for the first time in her lengthy career, will be looking to bounce back from a main-event loss to Ketlen Vieira last November. Murphy, meanwhile, is coming off a stoppage defeat to flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko last September.

A win would put Tate in prime position for a title shot, as Murphy is ranked No. 3 in the division. Shevchenko mentioned Tate as a potential next opponent following her most recent title defense earlier in June.

UFC 276 will proceed with 12 bouts at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, including the main event between middleweight champ Israel Adesanya and Jared Cannonier.