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The Ultimate Fighting Championship withdrew a fight from the Saturday card in Jacksonville after middleweight Ronaldo ‘J’acare’ Souza and two of his cornerbacks tested positive for the new coronavirus, the mixed martial arts promotion said.
Souza, of Brazilian origin, was supposed to fight the American Uriah Hall in UFC 249, originally scheduled for April 18 in New York, but postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
“The UFC medical team examined Souza and his two cornerbacks and found that they are currently asymptomatic or showing no common symptoms of Covid-19,” the UFC said in a statement.
“The three men have left the host hotel and will isolate themselves off-site, where the UFC medical team will remotely monitor their conditions and provide assistance with any necessary treatment.”
Hall turned to Twitter shortly after the news on Friday to wish Souza the best.
U R I A H H A L L
(@UriahHallMMA)@JacareMMA Brother, I know it sucks. I’m sorry you have to go through this. I am more than devastated by the missed opportunity. I wish you nothing but recovery for you and your family.
UFC 249 will air on pay-per-view television, but there will be no fans at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The fighters who participated in Saturday’s event were screened for the coronavirus upon arrival in Florida, and many of the 24 fighters have been isolating themselves in their rooms while preparing for their fighting.
“No other positive Covid-19 tests have been reported from the remaining athletes participating in UFC 249,” added the UFC statement.
“The UFC 249 card on Saturday … will continue as scheduled with 11 bouts.”
An interim lightweight title fight between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje tops the account.
UFC President Dana White, who has been adamant in his desire to be a soldier amid the pandemic, tried to offer reassurance after the announcement.
“We administered 1,200 tests this week, in 300 people,” White told ESPN. “It is not unexpected that a person tests positive. The system works. And the good thing about this is that we now know that Jacare tested positive, is doing what he should do and we are in a position to help him if he needs it.”
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