Alan Patrick back to training with ‘Jacare’ Souza after COVID-19 scare, targets August UFC return

Ronaldo Souza is free of COVID-19 and cleared to resume training once again, training partner and UFC lightweight Alan Patrick told MMA Fighting.

“Jacare” was booked to face Uriah Hall at UFC 249 on May 9, but tested positive for the novel coronavirus and was pulled from the event hours after the official weigh-ins the day before in Jacksonville, Fla.

“Thank God, Jacare is fine,” Patrick said. “He did all the exams and everything came back negative, so we started training together again this week. I was away from him for four weeks.”

Patrick considered traveling to Jacksonville to help his friend during UFC 249 fight week, but opted to stay home when the middleweight veteran informed him of the possibility of an infection.

Souza’s longtime coach Josuel Distak and training partner Rafael Lima accompanied Jacare to Jacksonville and also tested positive. According to Patrick, they are all fine, and so are Souza’s wife and three kids.

Patrick was scheduled to make his return to the octagon against Marc Diakiese on July 18, but was pulled from the “Fight Island” card due to some paperwork issue. The Florida-based fighter said he wouldn’t be able to re-enter the United States after traveling to Abu Dhabi.

“The UFC will move me to another card because the embassies are closed to the the pandemic and I can’t get this document,” Patrick said. “They told me to stay active, they will send me a date and opponent as soon as they decide. I have to stay active and training, and be careful not to get sick.”

With Patrick out of the July 18 card, Diakiese is now expected to face Rafael Fiziev, both fighters announced on social media.

“I like this fight because Diakiese is a good matchup, a British fighter that the UFC likes to promote, so it would be a good fight for me to get back to the wins,” said Patrick, who hasn’t competed since a third-round loss to Scott Holtzman in October 2018. “(This fight) won’t happen and there’s nothing I can do about it.”

“I don’t have another name in mind,” the added. “I just want to get back, do what I do best and win with a knockout or a submission — and then come back to fight the week after. I want to stay active.”