Jared Gordon’s training, like many others in the MMA world, has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
The 31-year-old UFC fighter and his team were ordered by police on Friday to leave their Sanford MMA gym (formerly known as Hard Knocks 365) in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., due to the city’s measures to close non-essential business in hopes of containing and reducing the spread of the virus in the area.
“I walked into the gym, I went to the locker room, I changed, I was about to get my hands wrapped, and the cops walked in and they were like, ‘Hey, you guys have to leave,’” Gordon told MMA Junkie. “Because we were in Fort Lauderdale, and it’s in a lockdown part of the non-essential establishments, so like gyms, clubs, bars, are not allowed to be open. So they kicked us out.”
Gordon (15-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC), who lives in nearby Boynton Beach, is scheduled to fight at UFC on ESPN+ 23, which is currently set for May 16 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, Calif. He takes on Matt Sayles in a return to the featherweight division after having competed at lightweight for the last three years.
Gordon and his team didn’t suspend training because of police ordering them to leave. Instead, they did what they could and took things elsewhere.
“So that was that,” Gordon said. “We went to the park and got some work in. It wasn’t anything serious, they just told us to leave.”
Gordon said the team will take training to their second location up north in Deerfield Beach.
“The other location is north, only like Miami and Fort Lauderdale are in lockdown, so they’re going city by city.” Gordon explained. “Right now, we’re all right as far as our other location, but I’m sure it will spread more to other cities.
“The other gym is still open, so we’re going to be there for now.”
Gordon hasn’t spoken to his coaches about a potential contingency plan if the the team’s second gym were to shut down due to coronavirus restrictions.
“It sucks, it’s all is up in the air,” Gordon said. “I’m just going with the flow, that’s all I can do right now.”
For now, Gordon will continue training for his bout but admits he’s concerned about it potentially not happening, as California is currently under statewide “stay at home” orders, and there’s no clear idea when recommended social distancing might come to an end.
“I’m definitely concerned,” Gordon said. “My opponent is from California. and they’re in a state-wide lockdown, so how does he train? That’s unfair for him; I guess it’s good for me. But how does the UFC expect guys that are on lockdown to train, and we don’t even know when the lockdown gets lifted? And who knows if it’ll spread to Florida more and they shut us down? So I’m just going with the flow.”
“Trying to get my weight down, train hard still, and definitely concerned, but I think it will get postponed. I’m still getting ready, staying active, and doing what I can with what I have. Definitely concerned, but just going with the flow, not trying to get worked up about it, not going to freak out because if it gets postponed because there’s a pretty good possibility that it could. I’m just giving it to God; he’s in control, and I truly believe that. I’m just letting it be.”
Jared Gordon on police shutdown of Sanford MMA gym over coronavirus restrictions: 'It sucks'
