Mike Brown tests positive for COVID-19, unable to corner Jorge Masvidal at UFC 251

Mike Brown won’t be in Jorge Masvidal’s corner at UFC 251 after testing positive for the coronavirus.

Brown, the longtime American Top Team coach, received his positive test Monday in Las Vegas during pre-fight screenings required to travel to Yas Island, Abu Dhabi where UFC 251 takes place Saturday. The news was first reported by Combate, which Brown later confirmed to MMA Junkie on Tuesday.

“I’m OK, (tested) positive,” Brown said in a text message. “I won’t be in Abu Dhabi.”

Fellow ATT coach Gabriel de Oliveira also tested positive and was unable to travel on the UFC’s charter flight from Las Vegas.

Brown was supposed to corner Masvidal for his short-notice title fight against welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. It’s unclear who will work Masvidal’s corner at UFC 251.

Masvidal stepped in as a late-replacement opponent for Usman after Gilbert Burns, who originally was scheduled to fight the champ, tested positive for COVID-19 last Friday. He was forced out of the championship fight, opening the door for Masvidal to step in.

Masvidal passed his COVID-19 test Monday and departed for Abu Dhabi on a private jet, courtesy of his First Round Management team.