The controversial mixed martial arts card scheduled for Saturday in Florida will go ahead as planned despite one of the undercard fighters ...
The controversial mixed martial arts card scheduled for Saturday in Florida will go ahead as planned despite one of the undercard fighters testing positive for coronavirus, ESPN reported Friday night.
Ronaldo Souza was dropped from the Jacksonville event after he tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday after arriving in Florida on Wednesday, the American sports broadcaster said.
Middleweight Souza, of Brazil, was scheduled to fight Uriah Hall on the undercard of the televised Ultimate Fighting Championship 249 event which is being held without spectators.
Although Souza – who is not showing symptoms – will not fight, the other bouts will go ahead, UFC vice president Hunter Campbell told ESPN. The other 23 fighters on the card reportedly tested negative.
The card is UFC chief Dana White’s attempt to drag the mixed martial arts series out of coronavirus quarantine.
White, who has also announced cards for May 13 and 16 in Jacksonville, insisted before Souza tested positive the production won’t put anyone at risk.
“Listen, we have families, too,” White told CNN Sport. “I have a family; I don’t want to hurt my family. I don’t want to die.
“This isn’t just some crazy, this is a well thought-out plan. We’ve had very, very smart people, doctors and people that have been involved with the...
