UFC BOSS DANA White has been forced into a U-turn on his bid to continue staging MMA bouts through the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 50-year-old had been pressing ahead with plans to run UFC 249 on 18 April. The event was originally scheduled for New York, then moved to California.
And although that state’s Athletic Commission has cancelled all combat sport events until after 31 May, with reports this week saying it would be held at Tachi Palace Resort Casino, getting around state guidelines by staging the bouts on tribal lands.
Instead, the broadcaster with a five-year contract to televise the UFC stepped in.
“We got a call from the highest level you can go at Disney, and the highest level at ESPN,” White told ESPN.
“The powers that be there asked me to stand down and not do this event Saturday (week).”
In a statement, the broadcaster with a five-year contract with the UFC said:
“(We have) been in constant contact with the UFC regarding UFC 249. Nobody wants to see sports return more than we do, but we didn’t feel this was the right time for a variety of reasons. ESPN expressed its concerns to the UFC and they understood.”
Concerns over the UFC 249 have persisted long before last night’s cancellation. Headliner Khabib Nurmagomedov was an early withdrawal from the card and the event was a distant outlier in a sporting calendar wiped clear by efforts to slow the spread of Covid-19.
Before the official cancellation last night, Rose Namajunas announced that she would withdraw from her co-main event bout against Jessica Andrade after two family members died after contracting the coronavirus.
Some gowwwwl
Dana the peoples health comes first before profit
@Nakedcleanersireland.com: aye, tell that to the bosses of “essential” workers
A right numb skull
greedy so n so
Pity would a been some epic shit,
If every one was healthy and wanted to do it,
Nobody is being forced to participate or watch ,
Then let the show carry on,
Unfortunately all the tree huggers and pansys are letting this Chinese virus get the better of em,
You can still be safe and act responsible and carry on
@Richy Fitz: UFC personified …
@james burke: tree hugger pansy verified 100%
@Richy Fitz: if everyone took that attitude the streets would be full. Nothing would have changed. These “pansy’s” you speak off are most likely not even doing it for themselves but to try and protect the most vulnerable. But listen once you get to watch some “epic shit” that helps you escape from your actual life for an hour.
@Richy Fitz: I would have enjoyed watching it myself but have to disgree with you. If every event worldwide (sports and non sports) went ahead because all those involved were ‘healthy’ and happy to do so, where what that leave us? It’s a shame, but it has to be one rule for all.
@Bill Clay: Snap lol
@Richy Fitz: You obviously have no friends or family.
@Richy Fitz: great trolling or you’re thick as the proverbial. You read like a Dana White soundbite, that’s not a compliment BTW.
@Richy Fitz: “you can still be safe and act responsible” confirms Dr. Knuckledragger, thick
@Richy Fitz: snowflake
@Richy Fitz: oh ur a Chuck Norris level tough guy…Maybe even Steven Segal on a goodnight..Knuckle-Dragger!
@Richy Fitz: guess what you need at a UFC fight, emergency medical personnel. Guess what those people could be doing instead of watching people try and kill each other…that’s right that could be working in a hospital trying to save lives. Or if a fight got badly injured guess where they might need to go? Bingo…hospital. Guess what’s in all the hospital around the world right now. Bing bing bing bing bing that’s the right answer a global Pandemic of COVID-19. You are smart fella. Have urself an easter egg.
@Richy Fitz: couldn’t agree more. All the snowflakes getting butt hurt Lol
@Richy Fitz: Oh ur chuck Norris level tough guy…maybe even as tough as steven Segal on a goodnight…Pond-Life!