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After positive coronavirus test, Mike Brown reportedly won't corner Jorge Masvidal at UFC 251
Jorge Masvidal stepped in to replace Gilbert Burns on six days' notice for the UFC 251 main event after Burns tested positive for COVID-19. Sarah Stier-USA TODAY Sports

After positive coronavirus test, Mike Brown reportedly won't corner Jorge Masvidal at UFC 251

When Jorge Masvidal faces welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in the headliner of Saturday's UFC 251 show held at the Fight Island location on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, the challenger will be without a longtime coach.

As Danny Segura of MMA Junkie wrote, Brazilian outlet Combate reported on Tuesday that Mike Brown won't be in Masvidal's corner on Saturday after the American Top Team coach and former WEC world champion tested positive for the coronavirus.

Segura added that fellow ATT coach Gabriel de Oliveira also won't be in Abu Dhabi after he tested positive.

Per Segura, Brown communicated through a text message that he was "OK" but wouldn't be working the July 11 Fight Island debut card.

Brown confirmed the report to ESPN's Ariel Helwani.

"Just heartbroken I'm not going to see Jorge win the world championship in person," Brown confidently said.

"As far as being COVID positive, I feel good. The only pain I feel is in my heart."

Masvidal stepped in to replace Gilbert Burns on six days' notice for the UFC 251 main event after Burns tested positive for the virus. The 35-year-old challenger tested negative for the coronavirus ahead of his flight in Abu Dhabi. 

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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