Loman's One debut stalled after he gets pulled out from One on TNT 3--report

Stephen Loman has been reported replaced by Troy Worthen for One on TNT 3.
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Stephen Loman's much anticipated One Championship debut has been called off as he and even Lito Adiwang have been pulled out from their supposed One on TNT matches.

According to Joseph Patrick of International Business Times, both Loman and Adiwang were tested positive for COVID-19 prior to their departure to Singapore.

Loman, the longest reigning Brave Combat Federation champion, was scheduled to face John Lineken at One on TNT 3 to be shown on April 22.

One has yet to announce if it will be played live or pre-recorded.

The showdown would have had some One title implications as the winner could be primed for a shot at Bibiano Fernandes' One bantamweight belt.

Patrick further reported that Troy Worthen will replace Loman for what would now be an all-American fight with the same stipulation.

Worthen was initially scheduled to face Japan's Shuya Kamikubo also at One on TNT 3.

Meanwhile, Adiwang was to take on Jarred Brooks at One on TNT 2, which will be filmed after the live One on TNT 1 broadcast on Thursday but will be shown next week.

There is no announcement on who Brooks will now face in the said card.

Even One on TNT 1 itself has been marred with possible COVID-19 issues too as Mehdi Barghi and Rade Opacic, according to One's statement on Tuesday night, have been taken off the card "due to health and safety protocols."

Barghi was supposed to meet Oumar Kane, while Opacic was booked for a match against Patrick Schmid.

Instead, Kane will now face Schmid on Thursday, and a showdown between Chingiz Allazov and Enriko Kehl has been added to One on TNT 1.

On the other hand, Eduard Folayang's road to redemption is also in peril as his scheduled fight at One on TNT 4 could be cancelled as well.

He and the rest of the Team Lakay delegation are now under observation due to them being Loman and Adiwang's close contacts.

Folayang, the Philippines' top mixed martial arts fighter, is scheduled to take on UFC veteran Yoshihiro Akiyama at One on TNT 4 scheduled for an April 29 broadcast.

Interestingly enough, Akiyama himself also got into a scary moment as he said in an Instagram post that "a complete tear" in his ligaments and biceps forced him to pull out of their showdown.

Folayang could be booked to fight a different foe, but with his own debacle, One might likely give him the day off instead.

A person privy to the situation told Dugout Philippines on Wednesday that a presser might be called anytime soon to discuss the situation.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno