'Jacare' resumes training after recovering from coronavirus

UFC middleweight contender Ronaldo Souza has been cleared of the coronavirus and has returned to training, his teammate, UFC lightweight Alan Patrick, told MMA Fighting's Guilherme Cruz.

"Jacare" tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of a scheduled bout against Uriah Hall at UFC 249 on May 9 in Jacksonville and was removed from the card. Two of his cornermen - reported to be longtime coach Josuel Distak and training partner Rafael Lima - also tested positive.

"Thank God, 'Jacare' is fine," Patrick said. "He did all the exams and everything came back negative, so we started training together again this week. I was away from him for four weeks."

Distak and Lima have also recovered, Patrick said, adding that Souza's wife and three children are healthy.

When Souza arrived in Jacksonville two days before he tested positive, the 40-year-old informed the UFC that he had come into contact with a family member who might've contracted the coronavirus.

Welterweight Lyman Good is the only other UFC fighter to reveal a positive test for COVID-19. The promotion has implemented a strict testing protocol since resuming operations in May.

Souza, a longtime contender in the UFC's middleweight division, has lost two straight fights.