Report: Fighter reinstated for UFC 250 after cornerman's second coronavirus test comes back negative
A UFC 250 fight is back on after a second coronavirus test overturned an initial positive test from one of the fighter’s cornermen
UFC middleweight Ian Heinisch was scratched from Saturday’s UFC 250 on Thursday after one of his cornermen tested positive for the coronavirus, according to TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter.
Per multiple sources, Ian Heinisch was forced to withdraw from UFC 250 for precautionary reasons because one of his corners tested positive for COVID-19.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) June 4, 2020
However, per MMA Fighting, Heinisch’s fight against Gerald Meerschaert will now proceed after a subsequent test cleared the coach. Heinisch had reportedly continued training and cutting weight.
The fight will be part of the undercard for an event headlined by Amanda Nunes vs. Felicia Spencer. Meerschaert was reportedly going to face Anthony Ivy with Heinisch ruled out, but now Ivy will be reportedly moved to another card.
UFC has had other positive coronavirus tests
This is the second such case of a fighter being scratched due to a positive coronavirus test after showing up for a UFC event, though it’s the first time such a test has been overturned.
The first case of a coronavirus scratch occurred at UFC 249 when Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and two of his cornermen tested positive for the virus shortly after weigh-ins. Like with Heinisch, Souza was immediately pulled from the event, which was held despite some video emerging of Souza — who was asymptomatic — in close contact with other fighters while wearing gloves and a mask.
Welterweight Lyman Good was also scratched from a previous attempt to hold UFC 249 after testing positive for the coronavirus, but the diagnosis was not disclosed until weeks later when Good revealed the circumstances to ESPN.
The UFC’s following of coronavirus safety measures has been a significant source of contention as the promotion pushed for weeks to return to action and finally succeeded last month. Most notably, a New York Times report found several holes in the UFC’s adherence to the safety plan it presented to the state of Florida for UFC 249. UFC president Dana White did not deny the report’s accuracy when asked about it, choosing to attack the reporter’s credentials instead.
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