Coronavirus Strikes Again

Photo credit should read ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images

Coronavirus strikes again.

Not long after ONE Championship was forced to convert its “King of the Jungle” fight card to a closed event, the Singapore-based mixed martial arts (MMA) will now postpone “Heart of Heroes,” originally scheduled for March 20 in Ho Chi Minh City.

“After discussing all options with the Vietnam Government, my team and I have decided to postpone ONE: ‘Heart of Heroes’ on March 20 in Ho Chi Minh City,” ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong wrote on Facebook. “The event will now take place on June 26, assuming the coronavirus situation eases. Bar none, the safety of our fans, athletes, staff, partners, and public are the highest priority for ONE Championship.”

Also postponing an upcoming event was ARES Fighting Championship, previously booked for April 3 inside Forest National-Vorst National Arena in Brussels, Belgium. The event was scheduled to air live on UFC Fight Pass.

“The coronavirus epidemic raises serious questions about contagion in closed environments,” the promotion said in today’s release. “We don’t know at this stage how the situation will evolve. The health of our audience, international fighters, and staff is our utmost concern, and we are not willing to take any unnecessary risks.”

To date, coronavirus has infected 101,848 and killed 3,462.