Dana White defiant on coronavirus: Nothing will stop UFC except government shutdown

Despite more obstacles being hurled in his way, UFC president Dana White insists the promotion’s event schedule will persist in the face of the global coronavirus pandemic.

Last week after seemingly the entire sports world came to a halt, the UFC announced multiple adjustments to its upcoming fight schedule. Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 28 was held in Brasilia, Brazil behind closed doors. Next week’s UFC on ESPN+ 29 in London was said to go on as planned (with fans), and upcoming fight cards for Columbus and Portland were shifted to the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Those plans didn’t hold for long, though.

On Saturday, it was revealed that sporting events in England would be held to a limit capacity, along with increased U.K. travel restrictions, and the Nevada Athletic Commission held an emergency meeting that hinted issues could arise if the UFC wanted to host upcoming fights at its facility.

White made an appearance on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” after UFC on ESPN+ 28 unfolded without an audience and addressed all the hurdles in front of the promotion as it attempts to move forward with shows in the coming weeks.

One thing remains clear: White’s heels are dug in, so much so that he said it would take “a total shutdown of the country” for the UFC not to put on fights.

“Unless there’s a total shutdown of the country where people can’t leave their houses and things like that, these fights will happen,” White said. “We’re gonna move on. These guys will compete. We will find venues, and we will figure this thing out. I mean, the only thing that’s gonna stop us is a complete government shutdown where everyone is confined to their homes.”

See below for updates on UFC London, UFC 249 and his response to the NAC situation.

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On relocating UFC London due to increased travel restrictions

“Obviously things are changing by the hour. (Saturday) morning they announced new travel restrictions for the U.K. So the fight obviously can’t continue in London, but the fight will go on. We’re working on finding a new venue, likely in the United States, and I have my matchmakers working right now to put together the undercard. The bottom line is that fight is happening, and the main event will go on.”

On the status of UFC 249 and, more importantly, Khabib vs. Ferguson in Brooklyn

“So we had possibly a couple of different venues for that fight, including Nevada. So now the whole Nevada thing went down. We’re looking for another venue. I hope by 10 o’clock (Sunday) morning I should have two venue options for that fight. That fight will happen. It will go on. The fans are all freaking out, but don’t worry. That fight will happen.”

On the situation with the NAC

“As of now, the (March 28 and April 11) fights can’t happen at the Apex here in Las Vegas. We’re working to find new locations, but the fights will go on. They will continue. We’re not stopping. We will keep finding a way to put on the fights. I’m in the fight business. I’ve been doing this for over 20 years, and this stuff happens to me every weekend. So, I’m used to this stuff. Not at this level obviously, but this is what we do. And we always make sure that the cards happen, and they will continue to happen.”