The eve of UFC 249 has proven to be a dramatic one as the promotion lost a fight for its comeback event due to a positive coronavirus test.
[autotag]Ronaldo Souza[/autotag] was flagged for COVID-19, causing his middleweight bout with Uriah Hall to be scratched from Saturday’s lineup. It’s a huge story, and naturally a whole lot of reactions followed with a wide range of emotions, much of them expressing concern for “Jacare” and the potential fallout of the situation.
Check below for the top Twitter reactions to the news of Souza’s positive coronavirus test and subsequent removal from UFC 249.
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Jacare Souza has tested positive for COVID-19. Here's what I was told. pic.twitter.com/3RtslcL6rf
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) May 9, 2020
UFC has issued a statement on Souza’s positive coronavirus test. His two cornermen also tested positive. pic.twitter.com/KSzA8LxWau
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) May 9, 2020
Are we … are we just gonna normalize this like a bad weight cut and just continue on with the event? #UFC249 https://t.co/T13k8U5kge
— Simon Samano (@SJSamano) May 9, 2020
— Dan “50k” Ige (@Dynamitedan808) May 9, 2020
Nope that's not good news. Not at all.
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) May 9, 2020
Shit !!! 🙏🏾 i hope this doesn’t turn out to be a disaster. Jacare is a fit man. He will pull through 🙏🏾 I hope no one else is infected. What about his training partners ? #ufc249 https://t.co/P2bQuNnSf2
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) May 9, 2020
Just spoke with a FL state commission official who said he is still very comfortable with UFC 249 proceeding despite the positive test. Said Jacare disclosed a recent contact with an infected relative and was isolated upon his arrival until results came back. "The system worked."
— Adam Hill (@AdamHillLVRJ) May 9, 2020
I mean, you could say he was socially distanced. But no, he was not isolated. We saw him standing there with Dana White and Uriah Hall. That’s not isolated. https://t.co/7qo5Ym3yVF
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) May 9, 2020
One step forward, two steps back… https://t.co/DDKGtxFFVL
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) May 9, 2020
Just heard that @JacareMMA tested positive for COVID and his fight is cancelled. More than the fight I hope he and his family are ok. Truly a class act in every way. Hope he’s alright
— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) May 9, 2020
That doesn't prove that's how he got it nor does it tell us who else has it today. It also doesn't tell us who at the hotel he has had contact with and whether they have it.
UFC has to retest everyone. Immediately. https://t.co/jIRxYRMNyS
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) May 9, 2020
Gosh! Thoughts are with Jacare and for his health. Get well. Disappointment for Hall I’m sure. https://t.co/2rDuFky8BI
— Caroline Pearce (@CarolinePearce) May 9, 2020
Covid 19 sit yo arse down somewhere . We’ve had enough of you …
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) May 9, 2020
This was earlier today from Werdum’s Instagram story.
“Jacare” very close with a group of people all certainly within 6 feet. pic.twitter.com/x1Dcus734G
— Danny Segura (@dannyseguratv) May 9, 2020
Really hope @JacareMMA stay safe! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 #FuckCorona #UFC249
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) May 9, 2020
185 tomorrow 👀 I can do it! Why not? I’m already here in Jacksonville! #ufc249 I know a guy
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) May 9, 2020
I hope none of you loser journalists is hoping the show gets canceled tomorrow
— #Bitcoin Halving 3 days (@Benaskren) May 9, 2020
OH LORD ! pic.twitter.com/VonoNOUfdi
— Olivier Aubin (@oliaubin) May 9, 2020
Good work @ufc @danawhite FL commission and staff. Put the precautions in place and they worked perfectly. Set the standard for sports to resume! 🙏🏻🙌🏼
— Bryan Hamper (@BryanHamper) May 9, 2020
Everybody should be commending @danawhite and the @ufc staff for a job well done in testing and making sure the safety of the fighters came first. Hope jacare gets through the virus unscathed as well as his family member. He is one of the good guys in the sport 🙏🏻 https://t.co/u15E8bOTPT
— Ibrahim Kawa (@Abraham_kawa) May 9, 2020
With 6 fighters in tomorrow nights card, I want to say thank you to the @ufc and @danawhite for putting on a fight, but more importantly the measures they are taking to ensure the safety of all involved.
— malki kawa (@malkikawa) May 9, 2020
Yet with @UFC who has made billions exploiting fighters, the show goes on. They are content to endanger others, and hide behind waivers.
A baseball style plan bringing fighters out weeks in advance, testing and isolating wouldn’t allow for shot-gun shows back to back.
Gross. https://t.co/fw4jLL3WoW
— MMAFA (@MMAFA) May 9, 2020
Dana White says it would have been ideal if nobody tested positive, but he's comfortable their procedures worked. "If you do 1,200 tests, it's not that unexpected to have one come back positive." Says, if anything, this shows they have good protocols in place. #ufc249 will go on
— Adam Hill (@AdamHillLVRJ) May 9, 2020
Soooo, now what?? #UFC249 pic.twitter.com/sovymFtcfl
— Eric Nicksick (@Eric_XCMMA) May 9, 2020
Gutted to hear about @jacaremma . Hope he recovers fully and quickly. No doubt he will. Also fucking gutted about not seeing @uriahhallmma vs jacare. Would of been a interesting clash of style and a fight that was guaranteed to deliver.
— michael (@bisping) May 9, 2020
To be honest… I would have been more surprised in no one tested positive for #COVID19 #UFC249.
— Nina Ansaroff (@NinaAnsaroff) May 9, 2020
Thug is COVID NEGATIVE.
See y’all 2morrow I’m fitin! pic.twitter.com/v7SVFf9kKZ
— Bryce Mitchell (@ThugnastyMMA) May 9, 2020
— @CrisCyborg on Youtube (@criscyborg) May 9, 2020
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