According to UFC president Dana White, the promotion will stay home for its next event.
In a text message early Wednesday, White told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the UFC’s plan to host its first fully-fledged card May 30 at the UFC Apex is “a go.”
White hoped to start hosting events at the UFC Apex on May 23, but the decision was pending the Nevada Athletic Commission’s approval to reinstate combat sports. The NAC suspended all combat sporting events in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. White’s message to the Review-Journal suggests the UFC has been given a heads-up that those restrictions are about to be eased, although the NAC is yet to make a formal announcement.
The UFC’s May 30 event, which would take place behind closed doors, will be headlined by a welterweight matchup between former champion Tyron Woodley (19-4-1 MMA, 11-4-1 UFC) and surging contender Gilbert Burns (18-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC).
The UFC become the first major American sports organization to return during the coronavirus pandemic last week with three events in eight days held in Jacksonville, Fla., where the promotion implemented health and safety measures for everyone on site. Ronaldo Souza and two of his cornermen tested positive for COVID-19 before UFC 249; they were isolated and removed from the host hotel, but the three events went ahead as planned.
UFC 250, which features women’s featherweight champion Amanda Nunes taking on Felicia Spencer, is also expected to take place in Las Vegas on June 6.
White said last weekend after UFC on ESPN 8 that the promotion was prepared to host its May 30 event in Arizona if Las Vegas wasn’t an option.
Dana White says UFC's May 30 event to be held at Apex in Las Vegas
