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Rivera reveals he contracted COVID-19 in April and has recovered

Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty

UFC bantamweight contender Jimmie Rivera revealed Friday that he tested positive for the coronavirus in April.

Rivera told ESPN's Ariel Helwani that he has fully recovered and wants to return to the Octagon in August against Marlon Vera.

"El Terror" said he experienced stomach issues, a fever, a bad backache, and fatigue, but he felt normal after four days.

"I didn't have it that bad," Rivera said. "I had it bad for like three days, and then I was fine afterward."

Rivera said his wife, Samantha, contracted the coronavirus three weeks after him. She struggled with it a bit more, Rivera added, but she has also recovered.

Rivera is the fourth UFC fighter to publicly reveal a positive test for the coronavirus. His teammate, Lyman Good, was the first, with Ronaldo Souza and Billy Quarantillo following. Rivera said he believes his case is connected to Good's because they were together before either tested positive.

The 30-year-old was scheduled to fight Vera at UFC 247 in February, but an injury took him out of the bout. Rivera is 1-3 over his past four contests, but he remains the No. 9 bantamweight in the promotion.

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