UFC fighters are forced to do a lot of things without having a say – from wearing only approved apparel in lieu of sponsorship deals to drug testing, among others – but getting vaccinated against COVID-19 won’t be one of them.
“I would never tell another human being what to do with their body,” UFC president Dana White told TSN (via MMANews.com). “If you want to get vaccinated, that’s up to you. That’s your choice. You’re never gonna hear me say I’m gonna force people to get vaccinated. Never gonna happen.”
White’s message comes after the NFL recently informed teams that COVID outbreaks among unvaccinated players could lead to forfeited games. The policy, while not a mandate, puts pressure on players wary or on the fence about the vaccine to get vaccinated.
Coronavirus cases are surging throughout the U.S., caused by the highly contagious delta variant, with more than 90 percent of new infections coming from it, according to the latest data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Current vaccines have shown effectiveness in protecting against or at least mitigating the severity of delta infections. Data continues to show that the vast majority of infections and hospitalizations are among the unvaccinated.
The resurgence in coronavirus cases has led to newly placed mandates in New York state, where proof of vaccination will be required for indoor dinning, fitness and entertainment events. The UFC has planned to return to Madison Square Garden for UFC 268 on Nov. 6. Michael Chandler, who isn’t vaccinated, cast doubt on whether he’ll be willing or able to fight Justin Gaethje at UFC 268 if it takes place in New York City.
Still, aware of the public safety crisis and effect it could have on the UFC, White seems locked into his stance that vaccination will be a personal choice for his fighters.
“I think a lot of people are doing that. They’re telling you in New York you can’t go into a restaurant or a gym unless you’re vaccinated and can prove it and things like that,” White said. “Some people are getting fired if they don’t get vaccinated. Yeah, that’s not gonna happen here. You wanna get vaccinated? Get vaccinated. If you don’t, that’s your decision, your body.”
Dana White says UFC fighters won’t be forced to get COVID-19 vaccine: ‘Never gonna happen’