Despite all the fear of coronavirus throughout the world, Dana White revealed that the UFC would air on its schedule regardless of the venue. Talking on ESPN’s SportsCenter, the UFC president said that UFC events would be held as per the schedule.
In a pre-fight interview for March 21 at the O2 Arena in London, White said:
“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.”
White also said that the March 28 and April 11 fight cards that were moved to the Apex in Las Vegas would not happen in Apex and the UFC is searching for the new venue. They were initially planned for Columbus, Ohio, and Portland.
“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.”
The UFC president said.
Dana also talked about the UFC 249 pay-per-view card which is scheduled at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on April 18. He announced that the fight would still happen and only “a total shutdown of the country" would stop the UFC events.
“Unless there’s a total shutdown of the country where people can’t leave their houses and things like that, these fights will happen. 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.”
White added.
