Worthen Steps In For Loman; Other 'ONE on TNT' Card Changes Confirmed

Stephen Loman and Lito Adiwang have been pulled out of their upcoming ONE Championship bouts due to COVID-19 related issues.

This update was confirmed by International Business Times with ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong in an exclusive interview on Wednesday.

Loman and Adiwang have tested positive for the coronavirus before departing from the Philippines. On the other hand, Eduard Folayang is also under observation together with the whole Team Lakay team due to exposure.

Adiwang was originally set to face Jarred Brooks at “ONE on TNT II” on April 14. With the “Thunder Kid” taken out of the scheduled strawweight bout, there remains no official word on who the American will face.

As for Loman, taking his place will be Troy Worthen against former UFC contender John Lineker at "ONE on TNT III" set for April 22.

The winner of the Lineker vs. Worthen fight could be in line to face reigning ONE bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes.

Meanwhile, Folayang appeared all set to return to the cage against Yoshihiro “Sexyama” Akiyama at "ONE on TNT IV "on April 29.

It is a sorry development for the 37-year-old Team Lakay veteran who wanted to get his career back on track. Folayang has dropped four of his last five fights and was determined to get out of the slump.

COVID-19 cases have grown rampant in the Philippines, and Adiwang and Loman have not been spared from the virus.