Lyman Good Reveals Positive COVID-19 Test, Confirms He’s Now ‘100 Percent’

Lyman Good is the first Ultimate Fighting Championship athlete to have contracted COVID-19.

The UFC welterweight revealed to ESPN that he was forced to pull out of UFC 249 after testing positive for coronavirus. Good’s withdrawal was initially reported as the result of an injury, but the fighter says he told promotion officials of the positive test at the time. Good began experiencing symptoms approximately four weeks ago, when he felt weak and had difficulty breathing prior to a sparring session.

"I knew something was up," Good said. "I know my body. I've been through it all. I've been through a lot of injuries and a lot of other things. But this was different. ... As a professional athlete, we're always constantly pushing our bodies. For me, my body was like my point check to see how physically I feel and everything. And my body just wasn't there at all."

Now, however, the 34-year-old New York native says he’s “100%” and tested negative for coronavirus last week. Good’s live-in girlfriend also tested positive for coronavirus – as did one of his coaches. All have since recovered, and none of Good’s other teammates were infected.

According to Good, symptoms – including a cough – were bad for about one week. After self-quarantining and testing negative, the UFC veteran says he’s resumed his training. Good says he wanted to wait a little while before sharing his news.

"We didn't want to feed into the fear, the imminent fear going on in society now," Good said. "It's a pandemic, it is a real thing happening. But I didn't want to stoke the flames."

The Team Tiger Schulmann representative was supposed to face Belal Muhammed at UFC 249, but even if he hadn’t pulled out, the event was eventually canceled. Due to the effects the coronavirus had on his lungs, Good would prefer to have a full camp before getting back into the Octagon. The UFC is planning on holding events on a weekly basis beginning on May 9.

"I want to get back on a card," Good said. "I have unfinished business. Like I said before, I'm a fighter through and through. I was out of commission for a little bit, but I'm ready to go back there."