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ONE & ONLY

Dana White reveals just ONE fighter is refusing to compete in UFC over coronavirus fears as MMA returns with bang

UFC president Dana White revealed Rose Namajunas is the only fighter to raise concerns about returning due to coronavirus fears.

The American promoter's MMA brand came back with a bang having staged three events in just a week, all held at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville after sports in Florida were allowed to resume.

 UFC president Dana White revealed Rose Namajunas is the only fighter to raise concerns about returning due to coronavirus fears
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UFC president Dana White revealed Rose Namajunas is the only fighter to raise concerns about returning due to coronavirus fearsCredit: Getty

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White wants to have shows behind closed doors back in Las Vegas at the UFC's Apex Arena, but is awaiting the state of Nevada's permission while he also works on securing a private island to stage fights.

Fighters are already preparing to make their comebacks with the UFC showing no signs of slowing down and only former strawweight champion Namajunas - who pulled out of UFC 249 - appears wary of fighting during the crisis.

White said: “Guys are training, people are training right now.

"People want to fight. So I don’t see an issue making a fight with anybody right now.

"Other than Rose — there might be others, I don’t know if this is a fact — but I don’t think there is anybody else who has brought up issues about fighting right now."

Namajunas was due to challenge Jessica Andrade for the belt at UFC 249 but withdrew from the event after two family members tragically died of Covid-19.

Throughout the UFC's events this month, fighters, training teams and staff received both swab and antibody tests throughout fight week, as well as having their temperatures checked daily and being asked questions about coronavirus symptoms.

Swab tests can detect if a person has Covid-19, while the antibody is conducted via a blood sample and tells you if you have had it.

And only middleweight Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza tested positive for the virus, forcing his fight against Uriah Hall to be cancelled, with the Brazilian then leaving the UFC's hotel to social distance and receive medical attention.

Conor McGregor - who has helped Ireland in the fight against the virus - applauded the UFC for their safety protocols on Twitter.

 Namajunas pulled out of UFC 249 after two family members tragically died of Covid-19
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Namajunas pulled out of UFC 249 after two family members tragically died of Covid-19Credit: Getty
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