Raulian Paiva and Zhalgas Zhumagulov next month at UFC 251, but Paiva will do so without an important person in his corner.
AG Fight, after speaking with Paiva, is reporting that Paiva’s coach in Ronildo Nobre has tested positive for the coronavirus and won’t be going to Fight Island for UFC 251.
“A lot of people died,” Paiva told MMA Fighting. “So being focused on the fight, being focused on the camp, one way or another, is a therapy.”
Nobre and other members of his family came down with the coronavirus, but Paiva says the coach and his family are doing OK.
Paiva still expects to get a victory at UFC 251, even without his coach, and then Paiva would like to fight a ranked opponents afterwards.
“I still have a lot to show in the UFC,” he said. “After this fight, I want to fight a top-10 or a top-5 of the flyweight division.”
UFC 251 takes place on Saturday, July 11 from Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi with Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
