Former Bellator MMA Welterweight Champion Lyman Good made history in the UFC, but maybe not for the best of reasons, as he became the first contracted fighter in the promotion to test positive for the coronavirus, which is why Good was pulled from UFC 249.
Good revealed the news during an interview with Ariel Helwani of ESPN:
UFC welterweight Lyman Good tested positive for COVID-19. He is the first active UFC fighter to publicly reveal he had Coronavirus.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 20, 2020
He was supposed to fight at UFC 249 but was forced to withdraw.
Thanks to @lymangoodmma for sharing his story with me: https://t.co/RzmIBnYsBI
The former Bellator MMA Welterweight Champion wasn’t the only person to test positive for the coronavirus, as Good’s girlfriend also tested positive, both have since been on the road to recovery. Good also told Helwani that he has been in contact with the UFC since testing positive and the fighter even got a phone call from UFC President Dana White.
There has also been a lot of criticism levied against the UFC for attempting to run events during the coronavirus pandemic, but Good sees things differently.
“There’s a lot of negative, a lot fear and a lot of bad circulating around in the world and in the media,” Good said (via Jack Baer of Yahoo Sports). “Maybe this would be a good distraction. If any of those people who were criticizing the UFC had the opportunity to make money, you’re going to tell me they’re going to say no? They’re not going to try to make money and bring food to the table?”
No word has been given yet by Good or the UFC as to when the fighter is expected to return to action.
