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Francis Ngannou says he was tested for COVID-19 as the UFC continues to maneuver around the coronavirus pandemic.
Francis Ngannou says the UFC had him tested for COVID-19 as the promotion presses forward with plans for UFC 249 and beyond.
UFC President Dana White has insisted that UFC 249: Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson will go on. White also has ambitions to host all subsequent cards, as well as rescheduling three cancelled Fight Night events. Ngannou was expected to headline the now-postponed Fight Night event against Jairzinho Rozenstruik on March 28.
“There is a chance that I can be fighting on that card, but they have to settle everything down,” Ngannou said of UFC 249 when speaking with Submission Radio. “Like, for now, it seems like they have a location, but they have to double check and see how they can handle this event safely for people. Because, first of all, it’s not just about (fighters). They are not just expecting to work with people that are fighting, they’re also trying to make things to care about our health. So, I got tested, they got me tested for the COVID-19, so I guess they tested other fighters, which is kind of like a positive thing, and like, makes you feel a little bit safe to get close or along with those people.”
Ngannou confirmed he was tested “a week ago” by a doctor “though the UFC.”
The one-time UFC heavyweight title challenger is not particularly concerned with the threat of COVID-19.
“I don’t wanna say that COVID-19 is nothing, I don’t want to say it’s not bad, but technically I think it’s a flu that we have all the time. The only problem with it is that it’s contagious and it can spread very fast,” he argued. “But no, I won’t be concerned about it because even after I’ve had a test, I wasn’t very worried. I was like, okay, whatever it is, it’s gonna be okay. It’s not like bad. Because, I think the thing right now is just the panic. So, this thing has caused more panic then the real pain itself. We are just panicking.”
White says a venue is just about confirmed for UFC 249, but would not publicly announced the location.
“Even if I know, I won’t tell you, man,” Ngannou loved. “It’s gonna be somewhere on Earth, it’s gonna be on this planet.”