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Report: Fighters, coaches being tested for coronavirus ahead of UFC 249

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Fighters and their corners are being tested for the coronavirus upon arrival in Florida for UFC 249, according to ESPN's Ariel Helwani.

They are also receiving an antibody test, which determines if they've been exposed to the virus, and daily temperature checks, Helwani added. The results for the coronavirus tests come back in 24 hours, while the antibody tests take only minutes.

Fighters and coaches are not expecting to be tested for COVID-19 prior to departure, a source told Bloody Elbow's Alex Scaffidi on Monday.

Multiple athletes have already arrived in Jacksonville for Saturday's pay-per-view event, which will take place behind closed doors at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena and will feature an interim lightweight title fight between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje.

Ferguson got to the city on Monday and Gaethje is expected to arrive Wednesday, according to ESPN's Brett Okamoto.

UFC 249, the promotion's first event since March 14 because of the COVID-19 crisis, will mark the first of three events the promotion is holding in Jacksonville in a one-week span.

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