Coronavirus pushes UFC on ESPN+ 28 behind closed doors in Brasilia: Reports

Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 28 event in Brasilia will go ahead as a behind-closed-doors event, according to reports in Brazil.

The event, set to take place at the Nilson Nelson Gymnasium in the Brazilian capital, was under threat after the city’s governor, Ibaneis Rocha, declared a ban on all large gatherings following news of a coronavirus outbreak in the city.

It resulted in bans on religious services, concerts, schools, sporting events and any public gathering or event involving more than 100 people.

But according to a report from Brazilian outlet Combate, UFC on ESPN+ 28 will go ahead. The venue’s management company, Arena Bsb, told the site the event will go ahead inside the 16,000-capacity arena as planned, but with no fans in the stands.

The UFC has not yet made an official announcement about the event’s fate or of the fates of any of its other upcoming cards. Later this month, UFC on ESPN 8 is scheduled to take place in Columbus, Ohio, but there have been discussions in that state about how large events will be handled in the wake of the coronavirus spread.

The UFC is not alone in its move to hold an event with no fans. Other MMA shows already have done the same. But others have canceled events outright.

Wednesday, the NBA put on hold the rest of its 2019-20 season indefinitely after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for coronavirus. The NCAA has said all its men’s and women’s basketball tournament games will be played – but with no fans. Other sports leagues are considering similar measures while the world responds to the outbreak.

The UFC’s planned Thursday media day and Friday ceremonial weigh-ins event have been canceled ahead of the event. The official early-morning weigh-ins Friday are the only official fighter obligations to remain ahead of fight night.

The event will be headlined by a lightweight bout between Kevin Lee (18-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC) and Charles Oliveira (28-8 MMA, 16-8 UFC), with a welterweight matchup between fellow Brazilians Gilbert Burns (17-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) and Demian Maia (28-9 MMA, 22-9 UFC) providing support as the co-main attraction.

The UFC on ESPN+ 28 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

• Kevin Lee vs. Charles Oliveira
• Gilbert Burns vs. Demian Maia
• Damir Hadzovic vs. Renato Moicano
• Nikita Krylov vs. Johnny Walker
• John Makdessi vs. Francisco Trinaldo

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 5 p.m. ET)

• Jussier Formiga vs. Brandon Moreno
• Randa Markos vs. Amanda Ribas
• Aleksei Kunchenko vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos
• Enrique Barzola vs. Rani Yahya
• Maryna Moroz vs. Mayra Bueno Silva
• David Dvorak vs. Bruno Silva
• Veronica Macedo vs. Bea Malecki