Francis Ngannou who he fights at UFC 249 after promotion had him tested for COVID-19

Francis Ngannou hopes to combat sooner in place of later after the UFC had him examined for COVID-19 simply recently.

The ferocious heavyweight knockout artist changed into at first speculated to compete on March 28 in a headlining showdown towards Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC on ESPN eight in Columbus, Ohio. That card turned into later canceled after issues over the unfold of the coronavirus shut down virtually all athletic occasions in the United States following President Donald Trump’s advice that no extra than 10 humans gather collectively in anyone room.

In the aftermath of the combat cancellation, Ngannou says the UFC organized a coronavirus test for him to ensure he changed into healthful enough to nevertheless compete.

“I were given examined,” Ngannou told Submission Radio. “They got me tested for COVID-19. I guess they examined all the combatants, too, which is type of like a positive issue. Make you sense a little bit secure to get along with the ones humans.”

While UFC President Dana White has refused to say if the advertising became getting the athletes tested for COVID-19, Ngannou believes the company is taking the proper steps to make certain all the opponents competing on upcoming cards are wholesome and freed from the lethal virus.

Ngannou says his check befell approximately per week ago and that it was facilitated through a doctor through the UFC.

Despite the growing pandemic that become sweeping the globe, Ngannou formerly advised MMA Fighting that he turned into still willing to combat at the same time as having religion that the UFC would do proper by using the athletes while it got here to their health and properly being.

The same may be said now after Ngannou changed into tested for COVID-19 and he’s ready to compete as soon because the UFC gives him a date and a region to fight.

“No, I suggest I received’t be worried due to the fact once more, I don’t need to mention that COVID-19 is not anything, I don’t want to mention it’s not horrific however technically I think it’s a flu that we've all the time,” Ngannou said. “The best trouble with it is it’s very contagious and it can unfold very speedy. No, I wouldn’t be worried about it. Because even after the take a look at, I wasn’t very worried, like some thing is it, it'll be OK.

“I suppose the factor proper now is the panic. This component has precipitated greater panic than the real pain itself. We are panicking. Sometimes you consider. I noticed human beings that has cancer, I went to the sanatorium to look a chum, who become at the medical institution for chemo and he became there about to have the chemo and he became scared about the coronavirus.”

While nothing has been set in stone for his return to motion, Ngannou added that it remains a possibility that he ought to fight at the approaching UFC 249 card, that is headlined by lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov taking over Tony Ferguson.

“There’s a danger that I may be fighting on that card,” Ngannou said. “But you understand they ought to settle the whole thing down. For now, it looks as if they have a place however they nevertheless need to double take a look at and notice how they can cope with this event adequately for people. Because first of all, they’re no longer just awaiting to position human beings there fighting. They’re additionally looking to make things to care about our fitness.”

As some distance as opponents go, Ngannou believes he would nevertheless face Rozenstruik and he’s under the belief that the undefeated heavyweight prospect has additionally been examined for COVID-19.

“I suppose it’s nevertheless the equal opponent,” Ngannou stated. “I anticipate he were given tested as well. If he’s nicely, yeah, I suppose that’s still the plan.”

Earlier this week, White said that the merchandising nonetheless plans to move forward with the entire UFC 249 card including all the initial fights. There’s no phrase but if additional fights is probably delivered after three activities were in the end postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.