“They tested me” – Francis Ngannou confirms coronavirus tests for potential UFC 249 fighters

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Francis Ngannou could feature in the UFC 249 fight card

French-Cameroonian MMA star Francis Ngannou is open to fighting at UFC 249. The 33-year-old wasn’t on the original UFC 249 card but things have changed.

The coronavirus pandemic has affected several UFC events and Dana White is working overtime to get fighters into this card.

Francis Ngannou could be part of the UFC 249 fight card
French-Cameroonian mixed martial artist Francis Ngannou poses during a training session at the MMA Factory in Paris on April 21, 2017. (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

It is an important one as Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Tony Ferguson is the main event. Ngannou was speaking to Brett Okamoto of ESPN and claimed the UFC are testing their stars for the event:

“I have a good chance to be on that card. Th ye are trying to check every fighter, everyone is fit, to do a medical exam. And the result takes like four-five days to come out.

“So I assume that, that is what they are doing for the potential fighters for the card.”

Dana white was unsure of when the UFC could start again
Dana White, UFC President gives a speech during 2019 UFC Performance Institute Panel and UFC Fight Night Shenzhen Press Conference (Photo by Yifan Ding/Getty Images)

Okamoto then asked if this is related to the COVID 19 tests and the Frenchman confirmed the same:

“Yes, definitely, they are not just trying to push us out there to go fight. They trying to take care of our health and their own.

“They are taking every precaution, which is great. Even as a fight, when they respect you, you feel confident about it.”

No worries for Ngannou

No UFC star has picked up the virus yet, and thankfully, neither has Ngannou. The Frenchman confirmed that he was alright and ready to go and he didn’t even have any symptoms:

“They tested me, it wasn’t like I was having any symptoms. Just to make sure I was clear.”

Francis Ngannou almost beat Stipe Miocic to win the heavyweight title
Francis Ngannou attends the UFC Fight Night: Ultimate media day at Wanda Realm Hotel on November 22, 2018 (Photo by Emmanuel Wong/Getty Images)

It will be interesting to see if Ngannou is confirmed as one of the fighters for the UFC 249 card. The 33-year-old has fought for the UFC Heavyweight title in the past and was hopeful of another shot in the future too.

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