Ronaldo “Jacaré” Souza, 40, of Cariacica, Espírito Santo, Brazil tested positive for the new coronavirus (COVID-19). This was confirmed after he made weight and did a staredown against Uriah “Prime Time” Hall, 35, of New York City, New York, United States during the “UFC 249” weigh-ins in Jacksonville, Florida, USA on May 9, 2020.
Despite this, the Ultimate Fighting Championship will move on with “UFC 249,” UFC executive vice president and chief business officer Hunter Campbell told ESPN. As scheduled, it will take place at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville on May 9, 2020 but now with 11 bouts.
Including Hall, all the other 23 fighters on the card tested negative. Souza has left the premises and Hall will not be given a new opponent.
The Brazilian mixed martial artist trains in Orlando, Florida. When he arrived in Jacksonville on May 6, 2020, he informed UFC officials that a family member might have tested positive for COVID-19.
While Souza was asymptomatic, he was monitored and tested for COVID-19 like all the “UFC 249″ fighters. The test came back positive after his participation in the weigh-ins.
Souza’s two cornermen were also COVID-19 positive. The UFC stated, ” As per UFC’s health and safety protocols, all three men have left the host hotel and will be self-isolating off premises, where UFC’s medical team will monitor their conditions remotely and will provide assistance with any necessary treatment.”
Only Souza, Hall and Yorgan de Castro, 33, of Cape Verde wore a mask and gloves during the “UFC 249” weigh-ins ceremony and proper social distancing was observed. Both Souza and Hall weighed 186 lbs.
Souza and Hall were supposed to fight in the middleweight division at “UFC 249.” It was originally set as the fourth bout of the evening.
UFC president Dana White has yet to comment about Souza. Meanwhile, watch the “UFC 249” face-offs here:
CONAN Daily 