American Top Team coach Mike Brown has tested positive for Covid-19 and as such won’t be in Jorge Masvidal’s corner at UFC 251 on Fight Island this coming Saturday night.
Brown had reportedly travelled from ATT’s base in Florida to Las Vegas in order to take a chartered plane to Yas Island, but as with everybody else heading to the destination, he first had to take a coronavirus test and unfortunately he received a ‘positive’ diagnosis.
Brown is of course a former UFC fighter himself and ex-WEC champ who has gone on to be a highly respected coach, working with major stars like Masvidal, Amanda Nunes and Dustin Poirier to name but a few.
“Just heartbroken I’m not going to see Jorge win the world championship in person,” Brown told Ariel Helwani told after learning the news that he had to quarantine. “Nobody has paid more dues.
“Jorge is also one of the most thoughtful athletes I have ever met. He makes everyone feel they are with him and a huge part of this journey.
“The truth is this guy has been honing his skills for more than 20 years and developed one of the highest fight IQs ever seen in the sport.
“As far as being COVID positive, I feel good. The only pain I feel is in my heart.”
It seems the feeling as mutual, as Masvidal also expressed deep regret that Brown won’t be with him on fight night.
“It sucked emotionally just because I want him there when I get that belt,” Masvidal told ESPN. “I needed this individual to be there because he’s a huge part of my career. He’s been there for such a long time. We’ve been friends for such a long time as well. It took the air from all of us.
“Every single one of me and my cornermen were devastated by it. Thank god, Mike doesn’t have any symptoms, nothing, any cold symptoms or sore throat or nothing. So he’s great right now.”
Brown is not the only person from ATT who has tested positive recently as another fighter he was due to corner, Pedro Munhoz also found out he had Covid in recent days and was pulled from his fight this month, while another coach, Gabriel Oliveira also has to quarantine following his diagnosis.
