Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, who was scheduled to fight Uriah Hall at UFC 249 on Saturday in Jacksonville, Florida, has tested positive for the coronavirus.
The UFC pulled Souza from the card but still plans to move on with the rest of the pay-per-view event, the UFC said in a statement on Friday night, adding that two of Souza's cornermen also tested 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," the statement read. "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."
Hall took to Twitter later Friday to wish Souza well.
@JacareMMA Brother I know it sucks I'm sorry you have to go through this I am beyond devastated for the missed opportunity I wish you nothing but recovery for you and your family.
— U R I A H H A L L (@UriahHallMMA) May 9, 2020
Souza was scheduled to take part in the preliminary card of the event, the UFC's first since pausing fights due to the coronavirus pandemic.
After driving to Jacksonville on Wednesday, Souza, who trains in Orlando, informed UFC officials that a family member might have tested positive. Souza was asymptomatic but was monitored and tested. The test came back positive on Friday, after he had already appeared at the weigh-in for Saturday's middleweight fight wearing a mask and gloves.
The UFC announced that the other 23 fighters on Saturday's card have tested negative for the virus.
Meanwhile, the UFC has conferred with Florida state athletic officials, who said the fights can go on as scheduled because the system worked in Souza's case.
"We administered 1,200 tests this week, on 300 people," UFC president Dana White said. "It's not unexpected one person would test positive. The system works. And what's good about this, is now we know Jacare tested positive, he's doing what he needs to do and we're in a position to help him if he needs it."
White said Souza's positive test won't affect plans to hold the next two UFC events on Wednesday and May 16 in Jacksonville.
The Florida State Boxing Commission isn't expected to comment until Saturday morning.
Souza (26-8-0), a 40-year-old Brazilian and former Strikeforce champion, had spoken about fighting during the pandemic earlier this week in an interview with ESPN Brazil.
"I am afraid to do everything, even to go to the supermarket," he said in a translated version of the interview. "But there is something I have to do, there is no escape. I prefer to work and take the risk because these are things we will have to do. But we are very concerned with this business; it is very serious, there are many people dying, it is complicated and sad."
UFC 249's main card begins at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view with preliminaries beginning at 6 p.m. on ESPN.
ESPN's Brett Okamoto contributed to this report.
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