UFC 250: Amanda Nunes believes she got coronavirus earlier this year in Las Vegas
- The UFC featherweight title-holder, set to fight Felicia Spencer this weekend, says she felt sick after attending a conference in Nevada early in 2020
- The 32-year-old says she returned home and showed similar symptoms, and most likely passed on the coronavirus to her pregnant fiancée Nina Ansaroff
Amanda Nunes is pretty sure she got Covid-19 earlier this year.
The Brazilian featherweight title-holder, who is scheduled to take on Felicia Spencer this Saturday at UFC 250 in the headlining bout, said she thinks she contracted the coronavirus while in the US.
“I was in Las Vegas in a convention, with many people from around the world,” said Nunes in an interview with Brazilian fighting magazine Combate. “I was exposed to many people there. Then when I came home, I felt sick. I was feeling the same symptoms of coronavirus.”
Nunes, who is also the bantamweight title holder, is engaged to fellow UFC fighter Nina Ansaroff, who is pregnant with their child and due in September. Nunes, who has been tested extensively in preparation for UFC 250, said the symptoms she had earlier in the year led her to believe she had contracted the coronavirus.
“Because when I arrived from the trip I went straight to bed, with fever, body pain, things that I never felt before. I was feeling sick before getting to home returning from Las Vegas, I stayed in bed for two or three days. Later Nina got sick too. So I believe that I passed through coronavirus quickly, but now I will know if I really had it. I believe that maybe I am immune now, because when you have it, you must get immunity later.”
Nunes is set to defend her women’s featherweight title against Canadian Spencer at UFC’s Apex facility in Las Vegas. She added her mother advised her against taking the fight because of the potential risks associated with Covid-19, however Nunes said after she explained the extensive testing protocols the UFC has in place for fights, her mother agreed to let her fight.
She also commented further on the subject during virtual media day on Thursday during a group interview with reporters. A reporter asked her is she was going to take the Covid-19 antibodies test.
“No I haven’t tested it with the UFC but I don’t know if I already [had] it before, I feel 100 per cent, I’m ready to go, if I felt bad I wouldn't take the fight."
Last month, Ronaldo Souza was pulled from UFC 249 after he and two of his corner men tested positive.
