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Monday, Apr 20, 2020

Lyman Good Reveals UFC 249 Withdrawal Was Due to Positive Test For COVID-19

Lyman Good (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

Several weeks ago, when UFC 249 was still scheduled to take place on April 18th, it was reported Lyman Good had withdrawn from the card due to an injury. But, in a recent interview, the former Bellator champ has revealed that he was forced out of the event as a result of contracting the coronavirus.

Good, who was scheduled to fight Belal Muhammad at UFC 249, recently spoke with ESPN’s Ariel Helwani. While doing so, Good reported this (quotes via MMA Junkie).

“Although I said it was due to an injury, it was actually because I had tested positive for COVID-19,” Good said. “As soon as I found out, I let everybody know. It was one of those things where it wasn’t sinking in that it could’ve been that. As fighters, we’re hardwired to train through everything. If we catch a cold or little nagging injuries here or there, we’re trained to just pretty much fight through it. At first I thought it was that. But there was just one day where it was bad. My body wasn’t listening, it wasn’t responding the way it normally does to sparring.”

Good also reported that he proceeded to get tested for the virus and that the test was positive. While discussing why his team decided against reporting that news initially, Good said this.

“We didn’t wanna feed into the fear, the imminent fear that’s going on in society right now. There’s a pandemic, it is a real thing happening, but I didn’t wanna stoke the flames, so to speak, and influence the fear factor of other people,” Good said. “I just want to let everyone know I’m much better now. At the end of the day, it was a risk that we were willing to take. As a fighter, I knew what the risks were. Unfortunately it is what it is. It happened.”

The 34-year-old also said that his symptoms never got too serious and no hospitalization was required. Good has recovered from the virus and recently tested negative for it. The welterweight is also working with a Red Cross program to donate his antibodies to people who are still fighting the virus.

posted by FCF Staff @ 8:44 pm
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