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Longtime Nova Uniao fixture Andre Pederneiras, perhaps best known to mixed martial arts (MMA) fans as the head coach of former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight champion Jose Aldo, has tested positive for coronavirus.
“I took the COVID-19 test and it was positive,” Pederneiras wrote on his official Instagram page (via Combate). “I am well, fulfilling my isolation at home, and my biggest concern at this moment is to continue our fundraising campaign, because the hunger of the less fortunate cannot fail to be quenched due to a MOMENTARY low medical in the middle of this war that we are fighting, to feed the less fortunate.”
Pederneiras, 53, was also the driving force behind former UFC bantamweight kingpin Renan Barao and has coached several other Brazilian champions, including ex-heavyweight titleholder Junior dos Santos. He’s currently spearheading a local food drive to help local residents during the global crises.
Aldo remains stuck in Brazil after withdrawing from UFC 250.