LAS VEGAS – Dustin Stoltzfus thinks the lasting effects of COVID-19 were the primary contributor to his octagon debut loss. Because of that, Stoltzfus (13-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC), who returns to action on Saturday at UFC on ESPN 26 for a middleweight bout with Rodolfo Vieira (7-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) on the ESPN-televised card at the UFC Apex, is viewing the upcoming fight as his “real debut.” It was tough times back in November, when Stoltzfus lost a unanimous decision to Kyle Daukaus at UFC 255. He wasn’t himself, Stoltzfus said, and now he hopes to rectify that. “It’s a little bit hard to take a whole lot from that fight, mostly just because – I hate making excuses for stuff, I really do and it pains me to say it – I was really, really suffering from the long-term effects of COVID,” Stoltzfus told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 26 media day. “I got tired within a minute and a half. That never happens to me.” To hear more from Stoltzfus, check out his complete UFC on ESPN 26 media day interview above
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UFC on ESPN 26′s Dustin Stoltzfus points to long-term COVID-19 effects for debut loss – MMA Junkie