The UFC has provided some of its athletes with additional details about the new pandemic safety protocol.
On Monday, MMA Junkie obtained a copy of a letter emailed by the UFC Performance Institute to fighters competing at UFC 249. In the email, the UFC PI informs May 9 fighters that they will be tested for COVID-19 by the UFC medical team.
"Upon completion of the UFC Medical Team administered COVID-19 test," it reads, "the UFCPI Performance Dietitian will conduct a fight week screen that includes but isn't limited to: weight, nutritional status, food allergies or intolerances and weight cut tactics."
The email does not state how many times an athlete will be tested for COVID-19, how long it will take for results to be received, or what specific kind of testing will be conducted. ESPN, citing sources, reports that fighters will receive "both a diagnostic swab coronavirus test, as well as the antibody test."
The email also contains a number of additional details about fight week logistics, which are summarized below:
Fight week meals and rehydration
Fight week meals are available, provided by the Trifecta Culinary Nutrition Department. Meals, snacks, and third-party supplements will be provided upon request. Each fighter has been assigned a specific staff member to handle his/her needs.
After weigh-ins, fighters will be provided with more than six hours' worth of hydration and nourishment.
Social distancing
To limit direct contact, fighters and meal staff will designate a time for meal drop-off. Every morning, staff will leave for drop-off and exchange weight-tracking data with fighters and their teams.