Nova Uniao head coach Andre Pederneiras is trying to make the best he can in order to fight the coronavirus pandemic in Brazil.
Not only is Pederneiras urging his fighters to stay quarantined and then checking up on them in order to make sure that they are actually remaining inside, but he also took it one step further and made his own arena available to treat the sick in Rio de Janeiro.
In an interview with Combate, Pederneiras pointed out how it takes everyone’s efforts in order to stop the virus from spreading even further.
“The word for my entire team is to stay home. We have a group chat where there’s, like, a roll call every morning. Everyone has to reply and show they are home. We’re trying to do our part. If we do that, we can turn the game around. I’m making my arena available so people can use it as a temporary hospital.”
With former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo under his wing, Pederneiras guarantees that his pupil is still preparing to take on Henry Cejudo for the bantamweight title at UFC 250, but he is doing all his training at home.
“They (Aldo and female bantamweight Ketlen Vieira) were training (at the gym), until about two weeks ago. Against their will too, because they think there should not be an event due to the situation. Ketlen has been training with Giu (her wife) at home. Aldo is doing what he can to to hit some bags, jump ropes, and train with his wife. Everyone is home trying to stay in shape in any way they can. Is it ideal? No, but it’s necessary for the world.”
UFC 250 is scheduled to take place in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on May 9. The card is expected to be headlined by a bantamweight title shot between Henry Cejudo and Jose Aldo. Currently, Sao Paulo is the city with the most deaths and confirmed cases of coronavirus in Brazil.
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