UFC postpones three events amid growing coronavirus outbreak

The UFC finally has decided to stand down to the coronavrius outbreak.

After attempts to keep its schedule intact, the promotion has postponed its next three events – UFC on ESPN+ 29 (Saturday), UFC on ESPN 8 (March 28), and UFC on ESPN+ 30 (April 11) – as cities around the countries have banned large gatherings and shut down non-essential business amid the global pandemic.

The news first was revealed on Twitter by company employee Michael Carroll after UFC president Dana White sent an email to the staff on Monday.

MMA Junkie obtained a copy of the email, which reads as follows:

My Crew,

This has been a crazy couple of weeks.

We’ve been doing everything possible to stick to our live events schedule because the fighters want to fight, our employees want to work, and the fans want to watch our sport.

So many people have reached out over the past few days to say thanks for not canceling our Brasilia event on Saturday. When weird things happen in the world, or when there’s a tragedy, like the October 1 shooting, people want things to get back to normal, and nothing feels more normal than watching sports.

We did everything we could to relocate our next three events– London, Columbus, and Portland. But every day, there are new restrictions put in place on travel and large public gatherings that are making it impossible to stay on schedule. We can’t even hold an event in Vegas, our home town, because there’s a ban on all combat sports events in Nevada until at least March 25.

As you heard me say, I’ve been in the fight game for 20 years, and this is what we do—we find a way to keep our events going no matter what. If fighters miss weight, if fighters get hurt, or if states won’t regulate us, we figure out a way. But this is different. The whole world is being affected right now, and nothing is more important than the health and safety of you and your families.

That’s why we are closing all UFC offices effective immediately, including HQ in Vegas, through at least March 31st, and asking all employees to work from home. The PI will also be closed to all personnel, including athletes, during this time. The next three events– London, Columbus, and Portland—will be postponed. UFC 249 is still scheduled as planned, but the location may change. We’ll keep you posted.

I tell you guys all the time, you are the BEST TO EVER DO IT. It feels shitty now, but WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS, and we’ll be TOUGHER, STRONGER, AND MORE BADASS than before.

Right now, the number one priority is to take care of yourselves and your family.

Finally, I want you to know that UFC has your back. If you or any member of your family is showing symptoms of coronavirus and you’re having trouble getting to a doctor, please reach out to me, Lawrence, or Hunter.

Thanks.
Dana

UFC on ESPN+ 29, which was previously set to take place Saturday in London, was in shambles due to increased travel restrictions.

UFC on ESPN 8 and UFC on ESPN+ 30 originally were originally were scheduled for Columbus, Ohio, and Portland, Ore., respectively. When the coronavirus outbreak caused those state governments to issue bans on large gatherings, both card were moved to the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

However, the Nevada Athletic Commission shot down the possibility of these events taking place at the Apex when it suspended combat sports events until March 25.

The UFC held its event this past Saturday in Brasilia, Brazil, without fans in attendance an Ginasio Nilson Nelson. After the event, White remained adamant that the UFC schedule would continue despite the rest of the sports world shutting down.

“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 on “SportsCenter.” “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.”