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UFC issues statement following Jacaré Souza testing positive for Coronavirus

The MMA Report Staff

The scheduled middleweight bout between Jacaré Souza and Uriah Hall on tonight’s UFC 249 preliminary card was scratched last night when it was revealed that Jacaré Souza tested positive for the Coronavirus.

The news of Souza’s positive result for the Coronavirus was initially reported by Stephen A. Smith of ESPN and the UFC put out a statement about Souza’s positive test on late Friday evening and stated tonight’s UFC 249 will move forward with eleven fights.

“The middleweight bout between Uriah Hall vs Jacaré Souza will no longer be on the UFC 249 preliminary card due to one of Souza’s COVID-19 tests indicating a positive result,” the UFC statement said. “In addition, COVID-19 tests for Souza’s two cornermen were also flagged as positive. UFC’s medical team examined Souza and his two cornermen and found them to be currently asymptomatic, or not exhibiting the common symptoms of COVID-19. 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.”

“From their arrival earlier in the week until their departure today, Souza and his cornermen followed UFC health and safety protocols, including practicing social distancing, wearing personnel protective equipment, and self-isolating whenever possible. There have been no other positive COVID-19 tests reported from the remaining athletes participating in UFC 249. The response to this development is indicative of the effectiveness of the health and safety measures UFC has put in place for this event.”

“Saturday’s UFC 249 card, which airs live on pay-per-view and is headlined by a battle for the interim lightweight title between No. 1-ranked lightweight contender Tony Ferguson and No. 4-ranked Justin Gaethje will proceed as scheduled with 11 bouts.”

As of Saturday morning, Souza has not released any statements. However, his opponent, Uriah Hall sent a tweet to Jacare stating that we wished Jacare “nothing but recovery for you and your family.”